Ministry of Labour Consulting on “Safe at Work” Initiatives

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has announced a consultation entitled “Safe at Work Ontario 2020-21.” The Ministry is seeking information and input from stakeholders in response to specific questions related to the following issues: Hazards The Ministry has identified the top 10 occupational health and safety issues and violations in the workplace. It is asking…

Appellate Court: Employee Can’t Transform Employer’s Supportive Leniency (Allowing Flexibility in Her Start Time) into Contractual Obligation

The Ontario Divisional Court recently considered the issue of whether flexibility offered by an employer to an employee alters a fundamental term of the employee’s employment contract. In Peternel v. Custom Granite & Marble Ltd., the Divisional Court upheld a trial judge decision that the employee’s 8:30 a.m. start time at work was an existing…

Federal Government Publishes Draft Regulations Relating to Pay Transparency

On August 10, 2019, the federal government released proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Regulations made under the federal Employment Equity Act (Act). The amendments are in support of an amendment to the Act made by Bill C-97, the Budget Implementation Act, 2019, No. 1 to include new pay transparency requirements. Once proclaimed into force,…

Family Status and Accommodation

Family status is one of fastest growing areas of human rights law. Increasingly, adjudicators are focusing on whether employers have met their procedural obligations under the Human Rights Code. The following checklist will help you develop an effective internal process for assessing and responding to requests for accommodation on the basis of family status.

Diversity Disclosure Requirements under CBCA in force January 1, 2020

As previously reported, Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Cooperatives Act, the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, and the Competition Act received Royal Assent on May 1, 2018 and will, among other things, impose new obligations on corporations incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) with the goal…

Gender Identity and Gender Expression

Gender identity and gender expression are protected grounds under Ontario’s Human Rights Code (Code). While the law in this area is highly dynamic, this Client Toolkit provides employers with guidelines and best practices for understanding its unique aspects, supporting trans people in the workplace, and ensuring compliance with the Code.