Employment Law

Members of the Employment Law Group work with our clients from the inception of employment, during the course of the employment relationship, and upon termination of employment on various issues that include:

• hiring practices and procedures;
• drafting and assessment of employment contracts;
• advising on practical solutions on rights and obligations on employee's rights and employer's obligations under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, and at common law;
• advising on issues of sexual and verbal harassment during the course of employment;
• drafting severance or compensation packages for employers;
• consulting on the appropriateness of severance packages for employees;
• assisting employers with compliance with labour legislation with respect to mass termination of employees;
• providing guidance for human resources managers and executives to conduct termination meetings to ensure proper procedures properly are followed to minimize litigation risk;
• assisting in locating skills assessment offices, retraining programs, and placement consultants for out-placement counselling for departing employees;
• negotiating resolutions of disputes with respect to severance or compensation packages for both employer and employees;
• advancing or defending complaints filed with the Ministry of Labour;
• advancing or defending constructive and wrongful dismissal actions at all levels of court and
• providing assistance with workplace health and safety matters, including effective management of WSIB matters that reduce direct costs for employers, resulting in fewer lost days due to work injuries. Through proactive involvement and management of WSIB claims, audits and classification reviews, employer premiums can be greatly reduced. Also, our practice group provides assistance in compliance with the Workplace Safety Insurance Act and
• advancing or defending human rights code complaints brought within civil actions or at the Ontario Human Rights Commission in accordance with the recently amended Ontario Human Rights Code.

 In addition, the Employment Law Group assists employers and employees with issues surrounding the following:

• Alcohol and drug testing, diversity and harassment policies;
• Enforcement of non-solicitation and non-competition agreements and defamation issues in relation to the employment relationship.