Universities value their autonomy, and though subject to court supervision, have long been accorded significant leeway in managing their academic and non-academic affairs. The Alberta Court of Appeal recently issued a decision that is controversial in its recognition that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms governs an Alberta university’s control over the use of its space. This decision conflicts with jurisprudence in other jurisdictions and may be challenged, but it does highlight the pressures on university autonomy today, particularly as they pertain to matters involving free expression.
Hicks Morley publishes a number of materials, both electronic and print, on issue-specific and sector-specific topics of interest to our clients. Our insights section has links to all of our various publications, updates and blogs, both current and historical, to keep you informed of developments in the law that impact human resources.
Human Resources Legislative Update
Federal Government Postpones Changes to Stock Options
In June 2019, the federal government tabled a Notice of Ways and Means Motion to limit the benefit of the employee stock option deduction for high income individuals employed at large, long-established, mature organizations. Stakeholders were invited to provide input on the characteristics of small, growing companies that should not be subject to the new…
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.
Employer Obligations for Critical Injury-Fatality Reporting under OHSA
In this Toolkit, we identify key legal issues and obligations under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) of which employers should be aware, including the steps that should be taken upon occurrence of a critical injury or fatality.
Accommodating Medical Marijuana
Accommodating medicinal cannabis requires balancing an employee’s rights under the Human Rights Code with an employer’s obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of workers. These obligations are especially pronounced in workplaces that include safety-sensitive positions.
ESA Compliance Checklist
Employers are required to comply with the minimum standards set out in the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). In this Checklist, we provide a general overview of an employer’s ESA compliance obligations, along with checklists to assist you in assessing your degree of compliance.
WSIB and Chronic Mental Stress
In this Client Toolkit, we set out the statutory changes, the policy framework and a list of steps employers can take to minimize the risk of workplace stress.
Pay Equity Compliance Checklist
This Client Toolkit is intended to help employers monitor pay equity compliance within their organization by providing a checklist of key compliance benchmarks that must be monitored regularly.
AODA Compliance Checklist
All organizations in Ontario which employ at least one employee are required to comply with a series of requirements under the standards established by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and the regulations promulgated under it. In this Checklist, we provide a general overview of an organization’s AODA compliance obligations, along with checklists to assist you in assessing your degree of compliance and the anticipated timing for future compliance deadlines.
Preventing Workplace Violence and Harassment – A Guide for Ontario Employers
In this Preventing Workplace Violence and Harassment Guide, we provide an overview of the workplace violence and harassment provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and outline what employers need to do in order to comply, including the development of policies and programs, conducting risk assessments and more.