The Federal Court recently upheld a decision of an adjudicator made under the Canada Labour Code (Code) that an agreement and release signed by an employee whose employment with a bank was terminated did not act as a bar to her unjust dismissal application. The employee had received a lump sum payment and had released…
Practice Area: Litigation
Appellate Court Considers Employment Issues Arising out of a Termination Post-Sale of Business
In Kerzner v American Iron and Metal Company Inc., the Ontario Court of Appeal considered a number of complex issues arising out of a sale of business and successive employment contracts entered into after that sale. The Court provided guidance on what can and cannot be agreed to during those transitions and how releases should…
FTR Quarterly – Issue 12
In This Issue: Year in Review – Key Human Resources Law Developments of 2018, The Road Ahead: Human Resources Trends and Issues to Watch in 2019 and more!
Setting up Shop in Canada? What U.S. Employers Need to Know About Canadian Litigation Law [Video]
In this video, Frank Cesario discusses five of the key differentiating factors about Canadian litigation that U.S. organizations should be aware of including: damages, document production and discovery, costs, mandatory mediation and differences in court structure.
Cause Termination Upheld Where Employee Found to Have Installed Spyware on Employer’s Computer
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently upheld a cause termination where an employee was found to have installed spyware onto his employer’s computer. The Court also considered the availability of the “after-acquired cause” defence In Sankreacha v. Cameron J. and Beach Sales Ltd., the plaintiff’s employment as a service advisor in the automotive department…
Appellate Court Allows Appeal of Stay in Uber Driver Class Action
The Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal of a lower court decision which had stayed a class action filed by the plaintiff (appellant) on behalf of his fellow class members, Uber drivers, against Uber and its affiliates. The lower court had ruled that an arbitration clause (Clause) embedded in the Services Agreement (Agreement)…
“ESA-Only” Termination Clause Complied with ESA but Failed to Rebut Presumption of Common Law Notice
The Divisional Court recently upheld a decision of the Superior Court of Justice which held that a termination clause in an employment contract which complied with the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) failed to clearly rebut the presumption of entitlement to common law notice. The plaintiff was therefore owed reasonable notice. In Movati Athletic (Group)…
Potential Liability for Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
This is a time of increased vigilance for inappropriate or unlawful conduct in the workplace, including with respect to sexual harassment and sexual assault. Who can be potentially liable in these situations? Learn more in this Raising the Bar.
The Right to Disconnect and More: Final Federal Post of 2018
In this smartphone and email-intensive world, should there be a “right to disconnect”? In our final Federal Post of 2018, George Vuicic looks at this question, which was discussed in the federal government’s recent report on modernizing federal labour standards. Find out what’s happening on the legislative front. Kim Pepper reviews new legislation requiring the…
Court Uses Expanded Fact-Finding Powers to Grant Summary Judgment in Departing Employee Case
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently considered the obligations of departing employees to their former employers with respect to fiduciary duty, confidential information and solicitation of former customers. In OIBC v. KO, Ms. Ko had worked with Overseas Insurance Brokers Corporation (OIBC or Plaintiff) for 23 years as an insurance broker. She gave her…