On December 19, 2024, Ontario’s Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 (Bill 229) received Royal Assent. Bill 229 amends several statutes including the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. Key amendments of particular interest to employers are addressed below. Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) The following…
Industry: Social Services
Ontario Court of Appeal Dismisses Appeal in Dufault, Upholds Finding That “For Cause” Language in Termination Provision Contravened ESA
In Dufault v. Ignace (Township), the Ontario Court of Appeal reinforced and applied the principle established in Waksdale v. Swegon North America Inc. (Waksdale) that, when interpreting an employment agreement, all termination provisions must be read together and the invalidity of one termination provision renders all termination provisions void and unenforceable. In rendering its decision,…
Highlights from the Federal Government’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement
On December 16, 2024, the federal government issued its 2024 Fall Economic Statement. The Statement covers a wide array of initiatives including several proposals that, if they were to be implemented, will be of interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators. Early Retirement Benefits in the Public Service The government has proposed…
Workplace Investigation Training Workshop
This session focuses on investigation fundamentals. Attendees will learn the key takeaways from case law and best practices for investigating workplace incidents.
Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA): Decoding the Codes: What’s the Impact of Bills 79 and 149?
In a session titled, “New Year, New Law: Unveiling Bill 79 and Anticipating Bill 149 – Insights for Success,” Diane Harbin will begin by decoding Bill 79 and examining recent updates to the legislation. She will discuss crucial provisions such as the inclusion of remote workers in the establishment definition, mass termination obligations and heightened fines for occupational health and safety violations.
The Growing Your Workforce Conference
This year’s Growing Your Workforce Conference, hosted by Workforce WindsorEssex, focuses on addressing workforce development challenges and opportunities across Southwestern Ontario. It is an event where ideas are exchanged, best practices are shared, and solutions are crafted to address the pressing issues facing workforces, talent pipelines and local labour markets.
Build a Better Employment Agreement: Do It Right to Mitigate Your Risk
The world of employment agreements has changed significantly in recent years but through proper terms and structure, employment agreements can help employers mitigate costly litigation and unforeseen financial consequences. This complimentary webinar will provide an overview of the essential components of an employment agreement that, if improperly drafted, have the potential to pose significant financial and litigation risk to an organization.
Advanced WSIB Claims Management: The Return-to-Work Process
The WSIB return-to-work process is complex. Employers must navigate multiple issues such as meeting return-to-work obligations, managing claim costs and addressing potential concurrent employment law issues.
Attendance Management Training Workshop
Employee absenteeism is one of the most challenging issues an employer faces. From administering an attendance management plan, to dealing with chronic absenteeism, to terminating an employee’s employment for failure to report to work, employers are often treading cautiously so as not to infringe on an employee’s privacy or human rights.
Accommodating Mental Health in the Workplace: Advanced Accommodation Principles
Managing mental health issues in the workplace poses a considerable challenge to employers, who are often required to navigate difficult questions around employee privacy, employment preferences, and workplace rules and expectations with the duty to accommodate.