Legal compliance

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In an era of heightened political tensions, employees increasingly express their political beliefs at work. While engaging in discussions about societal issues can be healthy, these expressions sometimes lead to friction among colleagues and risk disrupting workplace harmony.

Employers in Ontario need to navigate this complex terrain carefully, balancing the rights of individuals to express their views with the need to maintain a respectful and productive environment.Continue Reading Managing Political Expression in Ontario Workplaces

With Halloween officially behind us, it’s time to pitch the pumpkins, finish up that leftover candy, and pack up the spiderweb decor for another year.

But beyond leftover treats and lingering decor are there any ghosts and goblins lurking that might keep things a little too spooky during the upcoming holiday season? By proactively addressing some key issues in the workplace employers are in a much better position to keep spooky season where it belongs and focus instead on the bright times of the upcoming holiday season. Continue Reading Keeping Spooky Season Where it Belongs: Essential Tips for a Smooth Holiday Season

Using ChatGPT to Streamline Employee Terminations and Support Your HR Team

Handling an employee’s termination is always hard and involves a lot of moving parts. As a business owner, you’re likely juggling multiple responsibilities already, so managing terminations efficiently while staying compliant is crucial.

ChatGPT, as a generative AI tool, can help your HR team with many routine tasks while also assisting external legal counsel where needed. Here’s a breakdown of where ChatGPT can step in during each stage of the termination process.Continue Reading How ChatGPT Can Streamline Employee Terminations for Busy Business Owners

Are you an employer using fixed-term employment contracts and wondering how to avoid costly legal pitfalls?

Ontario’s recent Steele v. City of Barrie decision provides key insights on how to use FTECs effectively, minimizing risks like paying out full contracts or unintentionally creating indefinite-term employees. Here’s what you need to know. Continue Reading Navigating Fixed-Term Contract Risks: Essential Lessons for Ontario Employers

Many employers in Ontario are becoming aware, whether through news articles, or painful and costly first-hand experiences, that employees can be owed significant entitlements upon termination.

As we have explored in more detail in our previous blog posts, employers may owe terminated employees much more than was promised in the employment contract if a court determines that the contract’s termination clause isn’t legal. Continue Reading Please Come Back! Strategies for Navigating Termination Demands

Have you ever wondered if there’s a way to defend against Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) charges beyond the usual due diligence defence?

It turns out, that there is—a little-known and often misunderstood defense called Officially Induced Error (OIE).Continue Reading Further Defenses to OHSA Charges: Officially Induced Error

Ontario’s employment landscape has shifted significantly with the introduction of the new licensing regime for temporary help agencies (THAs) and recruiters. This change, effective from July 1, 2024, mandates that all THAs and recruiters operating in Ontario must hold a valid license. Employers need to understand these changes, their implications, and the risks of non-compliance to ensure their operations remain legally compliant.Continue Reading Understanding Ontario’s New Temporary Help Agency and Recruiter Licensing Regime: What Employers Need to Know

In workplace safety, adherence to the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is paramount. Welcome to the third blog in our OHSA series. Discover how previous regulatory convictions impact sentencing for new OHSA violations. Read our previous blogs here and here.

Convictions for violations of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) frequently result in significant fines for both corporate entities and individuals. Furthermore, individual defendants may face incarceration if the breaches in question involve significant aggravating factors.Continue Reading How do prior regulatory convictions affect sentencing outcomes for new OHSA violations?

For most employers we consult with, preparing and distributing employee handbooks seems like just one obvious step in setting up or maintaining a healthy workplace.

While employee handbooks can be a great tool to help organize the do’s and don’ts of the workplace along with important (and sometimes legally required) employer policies, you may not be aware of some of the potential problems lurking in your handbook.Continue Reading The Perks and Pitfalls of Employee Handbooks 

Defenses to OHSA Charges

Introduction to Due Diligence 

Have you ever wondered what happens if your workplace faces charges under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)or other similar legislation?

What steps should you take, and what defences are available to you? Navigating these charges can be complex, but understanding the due diligence defence is crucial.Continue Reading OHSA Series: Due Diligence Primer