Employee Bonuses After Dismissal: When Are They Owed?

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Matthews v. Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd., 2017 NSSC 16 (with supplemental reasons at 2017 NSSC 123) recently set out the test in Nova Scotia for determining whether an employee dismissed without cause is entitled to damages for lost future bonuses.

What Happens to Employment When an Employer Sells its Assets?

The issue of continuity of employment relationships upon the sale of the assets of a business was recently considered by the Ontario Court of Appeal in Krishnamoorthy v. Olympus Canada Inc., 2017 ONCA 873.

January 8, 2018

Notice of Delay: Simon says, “I am making a claim.”

Contrary to the perception that lawyers thrive in loopholes, when a dispute arises, the concepts of fair and reasonable are consistent. It is on that basis that most parties are able to work through disputes without commencing litigation.

October 4, 2017

Changing Tides: Enforcement of Termination Provisions

From the employer’s perspective, one of the most beneficial terms in an employment contract is a prescribed notice period in the event of a “without cause” termination.

Mitigation Income: What’s In and What’s Out?

Under the common law, an employee who is terminated without cause is entitled to reasonable notice of termination, or pay in lieu thereof. That entitlement is not free of conditions.

August 10, 2017

Working Notice not Appropriate for Employees on Medical Leaves of...

A recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court, McLeod v 1274458 Ontario Inc., 2017 ONSC 4073, confirms that working notice does not apply where an employee is unable to work due to a medical leave of absence.

Agree to Disagree: No Constructive Dismissal Where Employer Wrongfully Withholds...

The Ontario Court of Appeal has offered employers some solace in handling disputes with employees over the proper interpretation of the employment contract.

No Obligation to Pay Long Term Incentive Bonus Upon Termination

The Alberta Court of Appeal clarified the law with respect to how long-term incentive plans should be treated when an employee is terminated.

Navigating Employment Law Tricky For Startups

So, you want to launch a business in Nova Scotia? Well, whether you want to disrupt the tech sector, break the Internet or brew some sour beer, you are going to need to understand what it means to be an employer subjected to a litany of employment laws.

November 9, 2016

Termination Clauses: Nova Scotia Supreme Court Weighs In

In recent years, there have been many decisions on the enforceability and interpretation of termination clauses in employment contracts – which employers and their legal counsel read with both interest and apprehension.