Articles

About Articles The following articles are published by the Labour and Employment Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association. Members are encouraged to submit articles. About Articles

Editor: Madeleine Werker

Today
Today
photo of author Stuart Rudner

How to Win at Mediating Employment Law Claims

  • November 17, 2022
  • Stuart Rudner

I often write and speak about winning at mediation (it’s not an oxymoron), and as a mediator, I remain convinced that most counsel can do a much better job with their advocacy at mediation (also not an oxymoron). One of my mantras has become “help me to help you”; since I will be your advocate in the other room, make it as easy as possible for me to understand and explain your case in a compelling manner when I am speaking with the other side. That is how you win at mediation.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
photo of author Nadia Zaman

Strategic Use of Contracts Post COVID-19

  • September 20, 2022
  • Nadia Zaman, associate, Rudner Law

This article outlines some strategic and practical considerations when drafting and implementing employment contracts, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head-shot photo of authors

Does Mediation Satisfy the OHSA Duty to Investigate Workplace Harassment?

  • June 10, 2022
  • Ruth Wellen & Jesse Elders, Kastner Lam LLP

This article considers whether alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, meets the statutory requirement to conduct an investigation into allegations of workplace harassment under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. We conclude that alternative dispute resolution does not satisfy an employer’s duty to investigate, but we encourage employers to consider using mediation and other restorative techniques as part of their overall response to a complaint of workplace harassment.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Head shot photo of author Richa Sandill

What It Means to Say Yes: Settlement Enforcement in Employment Law Forums

  • May 05, 2022
  • Richa Sandill - staff lawyer, Don Valley Community Legal Services

In this article, we explore the various methods in employment law forums available to enforce a settlement, as well as understanding the test for when a settlement will be found to be binding in the event that a party changes its mind or attempts to resile.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Head shot of authors Andrew and Tiffany

Why We Need to Implement Province-Wide Mandatory Mediation in Ontario

  • March 29, 2022
  • Andrew Monkhouse and Tiffany He, Monkhouse Law

For almost 20 years, mediation has been required in most civil litigation proceedings in Toronto, Ottawa and Windsor. Mandatory mediation has significantly reduced the time taken to resolve cases and increased litigant satisfaction. A provincial roll-out of mandatory mediation will alleviate the current backlogs in Ontario courts and address the province’s urgent need to increase access to justice.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Three Ways in Which What Happens at Mediation Doesn’t Necessarily Stay at Mediation

Three Ways in Which What Happens at Mediation Doesn’t Necessarily Stay at Mediation

  • March 29, 2022
  • Stuart Rudner, Rudner Law

While we generally refer to mediation as a confidential and without prejudice process, the truth is that there are three potential situations in which what happens at mediation can be referenced and relied upon. It is important that counsel are aware of these exceptions, and advisable that they ensure that mediations they participate in are governed by an agreement which rebuts them to the extent possible. My standard mediation agreement does so, but not all of them do.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Developments in Employment Law in 2021, and What’s Ahead in 2022

Developments in Employment Law in 2021, and What’s Ahead in 2022

  • February 23, 2022
  • Daria (Dasha) Peregoudova and Jessica Schissler, Aird & Berlis LLP

In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic’s heavy influence on employment law, 2021 also saw the introduction of new law dealing with employees’ “right to disconnect” and the near-banning of non-competition clauses and agreements. Additionally, a series of prominent and influential decisions emerged from Ontario’s Human Rights Tribunal, Superior Court and Court of Appeal relating largely to workplace culture issues. We discuss this and more in our look back at 2021, and what’s to come in 2022.

Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Ontario Chapter, Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Curbing Workplace Transmission: Labour relations in the time of COVID-19 vaccination

Curbing Workplace Transmission: Labour relations in the time of COVID-19 vaccination

  • February 15, 2022
  • Meg Atkinson & Vinidhra Vaitheeswaran, Kastner Lam LLP

As the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved, so too have workplace dynamics, rules, and consequences. The availability of COVID-19 vaccines has added a new layer of complexity for workplace parties to navigate. This article explores how workplace mandatory vaccination policies are being reviewed by courts, labour boards and tribunals.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
2021 Labour Law Decisions of Note: Beyond Vaccinations

2021 Labour Law Decisions of Note: Beyond Vaccinations

  • February 14, 2022
  • Rebecca Rossi, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

This article discusses noteworthy labour law decisions of 2021. While the topic of mandatory vaccination policies has garnered significant attention from employers and lawmakers in the past year, there were several judicial developments independent of vaccination policies that employers and human resources practitioners should keep in mind.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum
Stuart Rudner, Rudner Law

Breaking the Impasse: Getting a Deal Done at Mediation

  • November 14, 2021
  • Stuart Rudner, Rudner Law

Sometimes parties travel a great distance to bridge the gap in their positions, only to find that the final step toward settlement is the biggest hurdle of all. "Splitting the difference" is not usually a viable strategy, so don't simply engage in offers and counter-offers without proper forethought. Working strategically with your mediator and considering creative approaches such as a Mediator's Proposal, Final Offer Selection, or mediation-arbitration (med-arb) will help get the deal done.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum