HR Blog
Mud in the Water: Divisional Court holds limiting language required to displace presumption of reasonable notice
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Published on December 18, 2018 | ![]() |
Stringer LLP |
A recent Divisional Court decision continues the trend of termination clauses being struck down and suggests that more termination clauses could be invalid than previously thought.
employment contracts, employment litigation, employment standards, wrongful dismissal litigation
Bill 66 Proposes Further Employer-Friendly Amendments to Workplace Laws
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Published on December 10, 2018 | ![]() |
Stringer LLP |
The Ontario government introduced Bill 66, Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act, 2018 on December 6, 2018. Bill 66 passed First Reading, and is set to bring about further employer-friendly amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) and the Ontario Labour Relations Act (the “LRA”).
construction labour relations, employment law, employment standards
Ontario Court of Appeal Finds Clarity in Termination Clause
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Published on July 25, 2018 | ![]() |
Stringer LLP |
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently overruled a decision regarding a termination clause, finding that the provision clearly and unambiguously ousted the presumption of common law reasonable notice.
employment law, employment litigation, employment standards, wrongful dismissal litigation
Termination Clauses: Clearly Restrictive Language Necessary for Enforceability
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Published on February 15, 2018 | ![]() |
Stringer LLP |
The Alberta Court of Appeal recently upheld a trial decision that struck a termination clause down as unenforceable.
employment law, employment standards
No Bonus Entitlement - “Active Employment” Requirement did not Violate ESA
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Published on December 04, 2017 |
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently denied entitlement to bonus payout to an employee who quit his job. The Court found that the language of the bonus plan, requiring “active employment” as a condition to receive a payout, did not violate the Employment Standards Act.
employment law, employment litigation, employment standards
Overtime Averaging: No Notice, No Harm, No Foul
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Published on October 11, 2017 |
In a recent decision, the Divisional Court refused to grant damages to a terminated employee for an employer’s failure comply with legislative requirements regarding overtime averaging.
Private member’s Bill seeks union-favourable amendments, without waiting for the Changing Workplaces Review
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Published on May 08, 2017 |
Many employers include termination clauses in employment contracts to limit their liability when dismissing employees. When employers draft generous termination provisions providing for more than statutory minimums, they must follow through on that generosity when terminating employees. Failing to do so could leave employers exposed to full liability under the common law.
construction labour relations, employment standards, labour relations
Probationary clauses: A double-edged sword for employers
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Published on February 17, 2017 | ![]() |
Stringer LLP |
Many employers use probation periods to assess new employees, and use contractual probationary clauses which purport to limit termination entitlements. Unfortunately, poorly drafted clauses may run afoul of the law and expose employers to significant reasonable notice awards.
employment law, employment standards, wrongful dismissal litigation
“Uncommon” employers – Corporate Structure vs Employment Obligations
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Published on January 11, 2017 |
In a recent decision, the Ontario Divisional Court overturned a trial judge’s ruling that one corporation’s obligations to employees “flowed” to an alleged successor.
employment law, employment litigation, employment standards
Medical Evidence and Employee Absences
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Published on December 23, 2016 |
A recent decision from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice confirms that employers are within their rights to require medical notes when employees are absent from work, but stands as a warning to employers that although they can ask, they may not be able to summarily terminate an employee who fails to comply.
employment standards, human rights
Tip Protection for Servers – New Changes to the ESA
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Published on February 29, 2016 |
The Ontario government has passed a bill to provide protection for servers and other employees who commonly receive tips and other gratuities.
employment standards, labour law
Court of Appeal upholds decision granting employee notice period based on employment with predecessors
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Published on May 15, 2015 |
Court of Appeal affirms that corporate reorganizations and transactions cannot defeat employees' statutory entitlements on termination where there is a "sufficiently close relationship amongst the various companies".
employment law, employment standards, wrongful dismissal litigation
Turning over a new leave: ESA amendments introduce new, significant categories of leaves
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Published on March 16, 2015 |
2014 saw the introduction of three new leaves protected under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”). These new leaves can result in significant absences from the workplace, which will create new human resources challenges for employers. Professionals engaged in workforce management and HR must be aware of these new obligations to employees in order to avoid accidental breaches of the ESA.
Allison Taylor to present OBA webinar: Pregnant Employees: The Risks of Reproduction
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Published on February 20, 2015 |
Allison Taylor will present this insightful webinar through the Ontario Bar Association on March 12.
employment law, employment standards, human rights
Federally Regulated Employees do not have Just Cause Protection
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Published on February 18, 2015 |
A recent decision of Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has provided clarity to a decades-long debate as to whether non-unionized, federally regulated employees can be terminated without cause.

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