July 26, 2016

Absenteeism Due to Disability: Has Frustration of Contract Occurred?

Accommodating the extended absence of an employee who is off work due to illness or disability can be a difficult task for employers.

Gradual Onset Mental Stress is Not Compensable for Federal or...

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal in Attorney General of Canada v Mullin and Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, 2016 NBCA 31, restored an original denial of compensation for a claim of gradual onset mental stress issued by WorkSafe NB.

June 29, 2016

An Employee With a 14 Year Absence Reinstated With Full...

In May of 2016, in Fair v Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, 2012 HRTO 350, an Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a Human Rights Tribunal with important implications for employers in relation to the duty to accommodate and the jeopardy of reinstatement.

June 20, 2016

Labour Arbitration: When are Damages in Lieu of Reinstatement an...

In the context of a unionized work environment, it is generally the case that when an employee is found to be terminated without cause, the employee is ordered to be reinstated.

May 20, 2016

Employer Liable for Remainder of Fixed Term Employment Contract

A new decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal shows the potential downside of fixed term employment contracts for employers and the importance of proper drafting.

April 21, 2016

Employer’s Denial of Request for Summer Off, a Breach of...

Family status cases continue to work through human rights tribunals across the country.

March 24, 2016

The Enforceability of Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Clauses

The Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench recently addressed the enforceability of restrictive covenants: Non-competition and non-solicitation clauses in Specialized Property Evaluation Control Services Ltd. V. Les Evaluations Marc Bourret Appraisals Inc., 2016

Ontario Court of Appeal Determines That Employer Cannot Rely Upon...

The recent decision of Fleming v. Massey raises the very interesting question of whether an injured employee can waive his or her rights under Part X of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA).

February 25, 2016

Breastfeeding and the Duty to Accommodate: Federal Court of Appeal...

In Flatt v Canada (Attorney General), 2015 FCA 250 (CanLII), the Federal Court of Appeal (“FCA”) visited the issue of whether the decision to breastfeed one’s child is protected by human rights legislation.

February 18, 2016

Beware of the One Month Per Year of Service “Rule”:...

There continues to be a seemingly never-ending stream of cases which confirm the perils of assuming that an employer’s liability for reasonable notice of termination will be capped at one month per year of employment.