Update on the Incoming Paid Medical Leave Under the Canada Labour Code

Federally regulated employers should be aware that amendments to the medical leave provisions of the Canada Labour Code are set to come into force on or before December 1, 2022. As set out below, we have clarified with Employment and Social Development Canada that these provisions will apply to all federally regulated employers, not just…

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Determines It Has Concurrent Jurisdiction with Labour Arbitrators to Decide Human Rights Claims

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) has determined that it has concurrent jurisdiction to decide claims of discrimination and harassment falling within the scope of a collective agreement governed by the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and the Police Services Act (PSA). The decision addresses a significant question of law arising from the 2021 decision…

Employers Take Note: Employees Entitled to Paid Time Off to Vote in Upcoming Municipal Election

Ontario-wide municipal elections will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022, and voting hours will run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Employers should be aware that under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (Act), all employees who are eligible to vote in the election are entitled to three consecutive hours during voting hours on election day to cast their…

September 19, Day of Mourning: What Employers Should Know

On September 13, 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that September 19, 2022, the date of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral, will be designated a National Day of Mourning and a designated holiday for the public service of Canada (i.e. employees of the Government of Canada’s departments, agencies and other public bodies). The day…

Brooklyn Hallam

Brooklyn is a a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Waterloo office. She offers advice and representation to employers and management in the public and the private sectors for a wide range of labour, employment and human rights issues.

Quinn Brown

Quinn is a labour and employment lawyer practising out of Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. She advises employers on a wide range of labour, employment and human rights matters including grievance arbitrations, employment litigation, labour disputes and workplace accommodation.

Justin Choy

Justin is building a practice that includes advice and representation for employers in both the private and public sectors on a wide range of labour and employment issues including grievance arbitrations, labour disputes, wrongful dismissals, constructive dismissals, employment standards, and pensions and benefits.

Artimes Ghahremani

Artimes’ practice involves providing strategic advice and representation to employers and management in both the private and public sectors on a wide range of labour, employment and human rights issues. This includes grievance arbitrations, collective bargaining, labour disputes, occupational health and safety, human rights and accommodation and employment standards.

Arbitrator Upholds Mandatory Vaccination Policy but Finds Enforcement Mechanisms (Suspension and Termination) Unreasonable

On August 26, 2022, Arbitrator Derek Rogers released Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, I.A.A.F. Local 3888 and City of Toronto in which he considered the reasonableness of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy (Policy) of the City of Toronto (City). The Arbitrator found that the Policy itself was, and remains, reasonable. However, he found that the…

Ministry Updates ESA Guide on Electronic Monitoring Policies

On July 13, 2022, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (Ministry) updated its online guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Guide) to include a chapter on written policy on electronic monitoring of employees. The chapter provides guidance on recent Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) amendments that require employers with 25 or…