Employment contracts shouldn’t be considered “set it and forget it” documents. With what feels like almost constantly evolving case law, employers need to keep contracts up to date or risk having key provisions thrown out by a court.
If a termination clause is found to be invalid, the promises in your contract (most typically limiting
Since the amendment of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) in 2022, Ontario employers with 25 or more employees as of Jan 1 are legally required to implement a written “disconnecting from work” policy. On paper, it sounds like a big shift. In reality, these policies do little for an already flexible or metrics-driven workforce that has moved beyond the traditional Mon-Fri or 9-5 dynamic.
If your business already operates with a flexible, remote or asynchronous model, you might be wondering: Do we still need a formal disconnect policy? Continue Reading Your Workplace May Be Flexible, But Your Disconnecting Policy Obligations Are Not
When it comes to taking time off work in Ontario, many employees (and employers) are confused about the difference between vacation time and vacation pay. Both are mandated by the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), but they are distinct entitlements with different purposes and rules.Continue Reading Vacation Math: Why Time ≠ Pay Under Ontario’s ESA
Unlimited Vacation sounds great in theory – employees take time when they need it, the administrative burden of ‘counting days’ is alleviated, the ‘use it or lose it’ drama disappears, and employers are able to avoid the “helicopter parenting” style of monitoring an employee’s vacation entitlements.
The Unlimited Vacation perk has become increasingly popular with the rise of burnout recognition, a greater understanding of the value of ‘mental health days’, and a less rigid take on the typical 9 to 5. It’s trendy too: In 2024, 26% of tech companies offered Unlimited Vacation (versus 15% total market)1
Before you start deleting any vacation request forms from your HR drive, consider this: in Ontario (and across Canada), Unlimited Vacation policies may create more problems than they solve, especially if they’re not drafted carefully or maintained properly. Continue Reading Unlimited Vacation: Dream or Drama?
As Ontario employers gear up for summer and bring fresh talent into the workplace, many consider hiring interns to support short-term projects or provide students with real-world experience.
But beware: not every “intern” is exempt from Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA). Misclassifying a worker as an unpaid intern when they are legally an employee can expose your organization to significant liability.
Here’s what you need to know to avoid misclassification and stay on the right side of employment law.Continue Reading Summer Interns or Employees? Avoiding Misclassification in Ontario