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Part 1: Changes To Terms Of Employment In An Economic Downturn
During the current recession, employers may be tempted to make substantial changes or dismiss a portion of their workforce to reduce operating costs. Even with preparation, both of these options expose employers to damages for constructive dismissal. Constructive dismissal occurs...
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Part 2: Update on the Calculation of Reasonable Notice in an Economic Downturn
The calculation of reasonable notice will always be an issue where there is no express termination provision in the employment contract. This calculation grows increasingly complex with the addition of economic stress. The employer has a common law duty to...
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Termination Clauses in BC: Perfection (Maybe) Not Required
Perhaps the most important clause in any employment contract is the termination clause. Without it, an employee is entitled to reasonable notice of termination (in the absence of just cause). A written termination clause can even allow an employer to...
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Can Employers Terminate Disobedient Employees for Cause?
It is generally understood that employees must follow the lawful orders of their employers and may be disciplined for disobeying such orders. However, the more difficult question faced by employers is whether a disobedient employee can be fired for just...
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Another Random Alcohol and Drug Testing Policy Quashed at Arbitration
As a new year begins, the already bleak outlook for Canadian employer’s trying to enforce random alcohol and drug testing policies in unionized workplaces appears even darker after a recent arbitration decision in Alberta quashed another employer’s policy. We have...
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Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015: Potential Impact on Prospective Employers
On December 1, 2015, the Ontario government passed Bill 113 the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 (the “Act”), which will come into force at a date to be determined in the near future. The Act applies to persons who...
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The Ontario Retirement Pension Plan – An Update
As we reported in 2015, the Ontario government intends to introduce the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) as a supplement to the Canada Pension Plan. On January 26, 2016, the Ontario government released further information on the ORPP and renewed...
Québec présente un projet de loi encourageant la dénonciation dans le secteur public
Pour faire suite à la publication du rapport de la Commission Charbonneau sur la corruption et la collusion lors de l’attribution des marchés publics dans le secteur de la construction, le gouvernement libéral a présenté un projet de loi visant...
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Changes in the Criminal Code: Employee Rights in a Time of Legal Chaos
Introduction In 2016, employees may be faced with requests from employers or from others whom the employees serve to participate in activities that are prohibited by the Criminal Code. There are two areas, in particular, of potential legal conflict in...
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Disciplinary action against an employee after a comment on Facebook. Where is the limit ?
Author: Raphaël Viens Côté In a recent arbitration decision, Centre de la petite enfance Allô mon ami c. Le Syndicat de la Nouvelle Union (CSQ), 2015 QCTA 749, the question was once again tackled. The employer is a kindergarten operator...
