2020
JANUARY 16
Are you in Compliance with your HR Obligations Going into 2020?
The month of January is a month known for resolutions. It is the perfect time to plan for the year ahead, which means considering whether your organization is in compliance with its legal obligations as you head into 2020...
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2019
FEBRUARY 08
The 2019 Annotated Canada Labour Code
For more than 25 years, Ronald Snyder's Annotated Canada Labour Code has been the "bible" among federal labour practitioners. Ron's annotations provide essential insights into the Code, and make this book the necessary resource for preparing any case before the Canada Industrial Relations Board. This 2019 Edition of the Annotated Canada Labour Code digests the new decisions that have been rendered by the CIRB, OSH Appeal Board, adjudicators, referees and the courts since the publication of last year's Edition.
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2018
OCTOBER 16
The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana – Are You Prepared?
As employers are aware, until October 17, 2018, it is illegal to buy, possess or use cannabis for anything other than authorized medical or research purposes. However as of tomorrow, medical and recreational marijuana will both be legal - but what is legal?
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JUNE 05
The Workplace After Harvey Weinstein & #MeToo
Business owners in organizations of all sizes are examining what sexual misconduct complaints mean for not only their workplaces but their ongoing viability.
Join us to hear legal and communications professionals outline the steps that organizations, including in their roles as employers, should be taking to not only ensure a harassment-free environment, but also to protect their brand and viability.
The panel will provide practical tips on what businesses need to do before, in preparation for, and if and when, they are confronted with allegations of harassment in the current #MeToo context. Given that all employers have employees, no organization is immune to the potential negative impact of a sexual misconduct complaint.
Guest Speakers:
- Sheryl L. Johnson, Labour & Employment lawyer and author of Sexual Harassment: A Guide to Understanding and Prevention
- Deborah Thompson, President of DT Communications
Details:
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
5:00 Cocktail Reception
5:30 Presentation/Q&A
6:30 Networking
Fogler, Rubinoff LLP, 77 King Street West, Suite 3000 TD Centre North Tower
Please RSVP to Kaley Green by Monday, May 28, 2018 at kgreen@foglers.com or 416.864.7628
If you have questions for our panel please forward them in advance to Kaley Green.
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MAY 03
What Ontario Employers Need To Know From A Pay Equality Perspective
Upon the 30th anniversary of the Pay Equity Act in 2017 the Pay Equity Office implemented several new initiatives to support its administration and enforcement of the Pay Equity Act...
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MARCH 13
Balanced Responses To Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct In The Workplace Are Key
Addressing and responding to sexual misconduct in the workplace is complex and involves many facets...
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JANUARY 15
Bill 148 Received Royal Assent: Significant Changes To The Employment Standards Act
On November 27, 2017, Bill 148: Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, received Royal Assent. Bill 148 makes significant changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the "ESA") and the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995...
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2017
NOVEMBER 09
Palmer & Snyder: Collective Agreement Arbitration in Canada, 6th Edition
Collective Agreement Arbitration in Canada addresses workplace issues in the unionized context, providing unparalleled analysis on all major collective agreement concerns and policy. One of the most cited authorities in labour arbitration and court decisions. Includes the full spectrum of workplace issues:
- Discipline and discharge
- Investigations
- Social media misconduct
- Privacy Issues
- Insubordination
- Sexual and personal harassment
- workplace violence
- Incompetence and incapacity dismissals
- Drug and alcohol testing
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OCTOBER 04
Bill 148: Proposed Changes to the Ontario Labour Relations Act
If Bill 148 passes in a form similar to that which is before the Legislature, the following amendments would apply to the Ontario Labour Relations Act ("OLRA") six months after it comes into force...
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SEPTEMBER 28
Bill 148: Proposed Changes to the Employment Standards Act
On June 1, 2017, the Ontario government introduced Bill 148: Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, which proposes significant changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the "ESA") and the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995 ("OLRA"). On September 12, 2017, the Second Reading of the Bill commenced and the debates continue to date. Below are some of the key changes being proposed to the ESA.
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SEPTEMBER 13
Sheryl Johnson: Sexual Harassment in Canada: A Guide for Understanding and Prevention
Sexual Harassment in Canada: A Guide for Understanding and Prevention, written by Sheryl Johnson, is a comprehensive new book that covers the most common sexual harassment issues as well as providing insight on sexual harassment in the electronic age, issues related to social media and best practices for addressing a claim or a potential claim, and their public relations consequences. It also provides in-depth commentary on the legislation and case law related to this important topic.
Written in an accessible and straightforward question and answer format, this text offers useful information on the most common issues that executives, employers, office managers and educators face, and leads readers through best practices in identifying and managing sexual harassment complaints. It also discusses the essentials that are relevant to providing training and implementing policies that may eliminate sexual harassment and the subsequent complaints from arising in the workplace and our schools.
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2016
DECEMBER 28
The 2017 Annotated Canada Labour Code, 25th Anniversary Edition
For 25 years, Ronald Snyder's Annotated Canada Labour Code has been the "bible" among federal labour practitioners. Ron's annotations provide essential insights into the Code, and make this book the necessary resource for preparing any case before the Canada Industrial Relations Board. This 2017 Edition of the Annotated Canada Labour Code digests the new decisions that have been rendered by the CIRB, OSH Appeal Board, adjudicators, referees and the courts since the publication of last year's Edition.
“Ron Snyder’s Annotated Canada Labour Code is a comprehensive and indispensable compendium of Board jurisprudence, both pre and post legislative amendments of 1999. The Annotated Code also includes a review of relevant cases and comments pertaining to Part II of the Code (Occupational Safety and Health) as well the Regulations enacted under each part of the Code. It has become an essential reference tool for all labour relations practitioners who work in the federally-regulated sectors and who wish to obtain insights into the application and interpretation of the Canada Labour Code and the rights and obligations that it confers on the various parties in the workplace. Mr. Snyder is to be commended for contributing such an important work to the library of reference materials on labour law and for his commitment to keeping the tool updated and relevant for practitioners.”
Ginette Brazeau, Chairperson of the Canada Industrial Relations Board
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DECEMBER 18
BYOD Tips for the Modern Law Firm
Sheryl Johnson shares her perspective with Just Magazine in her article BYOD Tips for the Modern Law Firm. Sheryl discusses how with IT consumerization comes the need for lawyers, as corporate employers, to implement comprehensive BYOD programs to balance organizational needs, professional obligations as well as employer and employee preferences.
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SEPTEMBER 29
Bonuses During the Notice Period: Case Law Update!
In December, 2015, I reported on a case called Paquette v. TeraGo Networks Inc. In that case, Mr. Justice Perell determined that Mr. Paquette was not entitled to receive his bonus during the notice period because the terms of the bonus plan clearly and unambiguously stated that employees had to be "actively employed" to receive their bonus...
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AUGUST 12
When Going AWOL Can Mean Job Abandonment
Employers often struggle with disability management in the workplace. They frequently walk on egg shells around sick employees, particularly when it comes to asking them for information about their illness and supporting medical documentation...
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AUGUST 09
Federally Regulated Employers Denied Right To Dismiss Employees 'Without Cause'
The Supreme Court of Canada has held that Federally regulated employers, including private sector companies and crown corporations, may only dismiss their non-unionized employees on a 'just cause' basis - matching the dismissal rights secured by unionized employees...
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MAY 12
Beware of the Fixed-Term Contract
Fixed-term contracts are employment agreements that have a start date and a fixed end date. Employers often use them when they hire employees who are essentially temporary workers.
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MARCH 24
Bill 132: Significant Changes to the Laws in Ontario
On March 8, 2016 Bill 132: An Act to amend various statutes with respect to sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence and related matters received Royal Assent...
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JANUARY 19
Ronald Snyder argues before Supreme Court of Canada that Federal Non-Unionized Employees not entitled to Job Security
JANUARY 14
Ronald Snyder arguing 1 of 5 top cases in 2016 before the Supreme Court of Canada: Wilson v. Atomic Energy of Canada
2015
DECEMBER 10
LIMIT YOUR LIABILITY TO PAY BONUSES DURING NOTICE PERIOD
FEBRUARY 03
Employment Alert - Federally Regulated Employer's Right to Dismiss Employees 'Without Cause' Confirmed
2014
DECEMBER 18
Annual Checklist 2014
SEPTEMBER 30
Recent Decision on Severance Pay
JULY 31
New Leaves of Absence Added to the Employment Standards Act (Bill 21)
JUNE 27
Update on "Family Status"
APRIL 29
Should Employers Provide References For Departing Employees?
JANUARY 31
Human Rights Update
2013
DECEMBER 17
Making a List and Checking It Twice
NOVEMBER 29
Holiday Parties: Understand Your Liabilities
OCTOBER 25
The Non-Solicitation Clause, An Important Weapon In Your Arsenal
AUGUST 28
Can Personal Facebook Posts Be Discriminatory in the Employment Context?
JULY 30
No Duty to Mitigate if Employment Agreement Stipulates Fixed Notice Period
JULY 01
Employment Alert - Federally Regulated Employers Can Now Dismiss Employees 'Without Cause'
JUNE 26
Random Alcohol Testing in Your Workplace
MAY 29
Employers Beware of Wright v. Young and Rubicam
APRIL 01
Limit Your Liability on Termination
MARCH 01
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
How important is it to know the difference between an employee and an independent contractor? Individuals and organizations should have a good understanding of both, as these terms determine many aspects of a working relationship and can potentially carry significant legal consequences.
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FEBRUARY 01
Duty to Accommodate Childcare Needs
The Federal Court reached a decision in Johnstone v. Canada Border Services Agency, where the Tribunal held that the Canadian Border Services Agency failed to accommodate an employee's family status obligations.
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JANUARY 01
Employee Privacy and Work Computers
The Supreme Court of Canada recently rendered a decision in which it discussed the issue
of an employee’s expectation of privacy over the content of his work computer. In R.
v. Cole*, the accused was charged with (among other things) possession of child pornography.
The child pornography was found on his work computer.
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2012
DECEMBER 01
Making A List and Checking It Twice
We tend to use the month of December as a time to reflect on our accomplishments in
the year gone by, and to plan for the year ahead. Accordingly, it is the perfect time of year
to consider whether your organization has met its legal obligations as you head into 2013.
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NOVEMBER 01
Advantages To Having An Employee Handbook
If your organization has more than a handful of employees, it would be prudent for you to
have an Employee Handbook that clearly spells out your workplace policies, procedures
and rules. There are significant advantages, both legally and practically, to creating and
implementing a Handbook.
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OCTOBER 01
Is Your Accessibility Policy In Place?
The “Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005”, Customer Service Standard
(Regulation 429/07), requires organizations who provide goods or services to the public or
other third parties to have policies and procedures in place with respect to people with
disabilities.
