Even if your company hasn’t formally adopted AI yet, you still need an AI policy. This is true even if your company doesn’t allow employees to use AI or if it isn’t planning on purchasing any AI tools.
The reality is, if you employ people, AI is already present in your workplace. The only question
Technology has made it easier than ever to monitor how work gets done. With the rise of hybrid and remote work, digital productivity tools, and AI‑enabled systems, workplace monitoring has become a key compliance issue for Ontario employers.
Ontario does not have a single, comprehensive statute governing employee privacy in the workplace. However, under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”), employers with 25 or
A decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (“Tribunal”) explores the boundaries of the duty to accommodate in the workplace, raising important questions about how far employers must go to meet accommodation requests, and whether emotional discomfort during the process can establish a
Ontario’s introduction of long-term illness leave (“LTI Leave”) significantly expands statutory leave entitlements. While the statutory framework appears straightforward, the real legal risk lies in how it intersects with human rights accommodation obligations.
The Statutory Framework
Effective June 19, 2025, the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) provides eligible employees with up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave
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 ESAAs an employer operating in a unionized environment—whether in Ontario or under federal jurisdiction—you may encounter complex workplace disputes involving human rights issues. A common question that arises is whether employees can bypass their union to file a human rights complaint directly.
Historically, the answer was uncertain, and unions were seen as the primary—if not exclusive—representative for workplace disputes. However, recent legal decisions have clarified when employees can pursue human rights claims independently. Understanding these rulings is essential for ensuring compliance, managing risk, and effectively handling workplace disputes.
Continue Reading Understanding Human Rights Protections and Union RepresentationIn 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
Job abandonment typically occurs when an employee is absent without communicating with their employer for an extended period, leading the employer to conclude that the employee has voluntarily resigned. However, circumstances like medical emergencies or family crises may justify the absence, so employers should avoid jumping to conclusions.
Continue Reading Out of Office… Forever? How to Handle Job AbandonmentFor 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 HandbooksIn the world of employment law, terminations tend to steal the spotlight. But what about when the employee is the one ending the employment relationship?
Here is an overview of the law of resignation, and what employers need to know when they receive an employee’s “two weeks’ notice”.
Continue Reading Employee Resignations: The Basics