Articles 2021

Today
Today
Cassandra Ma

Waiting to Act Is Not a Reasonable Option: Workplace Health and Safety in the Time of Coronavirus

  • March 03, 2021
  • Cassandra Ma, labour and employment legal counsel at Canada Post Corporation

As the COVID-19 pandemic concludes its first year, we have seen a slow release of decisions assessing infectious disease prevention policies. From the applicable jurisprudence, a central theme has emerged: an employer’s duty to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker under section 25(2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act will be interpreted expansively where catastrophic injury and loss of life may arise from an unknown hazard.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Meg Atkinson and Ruthie Wellen, Kastner Lam LLP

Workplace COVID-19 Protocols and Just Cause in Unionized Workplaces

  • March 02, 2021
  • Meg Atkinson and Ruthie Wellen, Kastner Lam LLP

This article reviews three recent arbitration decisions in which unionized employees were dismissed for failing to adhere to workplace COVID-19 policies. The authors canvass emerging trends and discuss factors that ought to be considered in this developing area of law.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Dasha Peregoudova, Aird & Berlis LLP

Key Developments in Employment Law in 2020

  • February 06, 2021
  • Dasha Peregoudova, Aird & Berlis LLP

This article discusses major shifts and the most noteworthy employment-related decisions of 2020. Although COVID-19 demanded significant attention from both employers and lawmakers, there were several significant judicial developments which were independent of the pandemic.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Andrew Shaw and Shyama Talukdar, Baker & McKenzie LLP

2020 Year in Review: The Ontario Labour Relations Board

  • February 06, 2021
  • Andrew Shaw and Shyama Talukdar, Baker & McKenzie LLP

2020 was a tumultuous year in labour relations given the pandemic, and the decisions coming out of the Ontario Labour Relations Board (the "Board") reflect this. This article explores some of the key decisions and trends that defined advocacy at the Board in the past year.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum

M&A Due Diligence in the #MeToo Era: Privacy, Privilege, and Purchase Agreements

  • January 05, 2021
  • Melody Burke, Pat Denroche, and Lauren MacLeod, Torys LLP

Since the #MeToo hashtag and the resulting movement swept across social media in 2017, purchasers are increasingly requiring that vendors provide diligence disclosure and a legal representation concerning sexual harassment in merger and acquisition agreements. This article identifies various considerations for navigating the tension between providing thorough disclosure while upholding obligations regarding privacy, privilege, and confidentiality.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Madeleine Werker, Grosman Gale Fletcher Hopkins LLP

New Federal Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations

  • January 05, 2021
  • Madeleine Werker, Grosman Gale Fletcher Hopkins LLP

This article reviews notable changes to federally-regulated employers’ obligations when the new Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations come into force as of January 1, 2021. These new Regulations create one regime for both workplace violence and sexual harassment and set out requirements with regard to workplace harassment and violence prevention policies, workplace assessments, training, and procedural requirements.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
James Jennings, Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP

Virtual Mediations – Tips and Trends from the Virtual Trenches

  • January 05, 2021
  • James Jennings, Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP

In the second of a two-part series, I interview mediators Barry Fisher, Lisa Feld, Sheri Price and Stuart Rudner regarding their top tips and trends they see in the world of virtual mediations.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum

Enforceability of Termination Clauses for Federally-Regulated Employees

  • January 05, 2021
  • Gregory Ko, Kastner Lam LLP

This article unpacks the Superior Court’s recent decision in Sager v. TFI International Inc., which represents one of the first decisions addressing the enforceability of termination clauses governed by the Canada Labour Code.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Supreme Court Clarifies Damages for Bonuses Arising During the Notice Period in Matthews v Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd.

Supreme Court Clarifies Damages for Bonuses Arising During the Notice Period in Matthews v Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd.

  • November 02, 2020
  • Brett Hughes, Dewart Gleason LLP

In Matthews v Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd., the Supreme Court declined to address whether the duty to perform a contract in good faith established in Bhasin v Hrynew, 2014 SCC 71 extends throughout the duration of an employment contract. The court instead provided helpful guidance regarding the test for whether an employee is entitled to damages for loss of bonus or incentive payments during a reasonable notice period.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum