Join us for a joint professional development session tailored for HR and disability management professionals. The first workshop covers the Duty to Accommodate, with legal insights and practical strategies for handling accommodation requests. The second focuses on WSIB Mental Stress Claims, including best practices for claim management, return-to-work planning, and cost control. Both sessions feature expert guidance, interactive elements, and helpful take-home resources.
Practice Area: Employment Law
Arbitrator Upholds For-Cause Termination of Tenured University Professor for Sexual Harassment of Graduate Student
In a significant decision for post-secondary institutions, Arbitrator Leslie Reaume has upheld the for-cause termination of a tenured university professor at Brock University for the sexual harassment of a graduate student. The ruling sends a clear message that the power imbalance in supervisory relationships is not an invitation for inappropriate conduct. Sexually charged and personally…
Ontario Superior Court Upholds Termination Clause Limiting Employee to ESA Minimums in Li v. Wayfair Canada Inc.
Is ‘At Any Time’ Still Enforceable Post-Dufault? The Ontario Superior Court says “yes” in Li v. Wayfair Canada Inc. In our latest FTR Now, Hicks Morley’s Edward O’Dwyer and Kelly Brennan review the case and provide key takeaways for employers.
Facebook Canada’s Equity Forfeiture Provision Receives a “Like” From an Ontario Court
Employers using equity-based compensation should take note of this recent decision by the Ontario Superior Court in Wigdor v. Facebook Canada Ltd. In this FTR Now, Hicks Morley’s Alex Lemoine provides three key takeaways around termination provisions in employment and compensation agreements.
Hicks Morley Selected as a Canadian HR Reporter Readers’ Choice Award Winner
Hicks Morley has been selected as a Canadian HR Reporter Readers’ Choice award winner in the “Employment & Labour Law (Boutiques)” category for 2025. As a law firm committed to excellence in client service, we are proud to have again been chosen by Canadian HR Reporter’s readers, the human resources professionals across the country with whom we have the honour of working for this award.
Federal Government Launches Consultation on Proposed Regulatory Amendments to New Leave Provisions Under the Canada Labour Code
The #federalgovernment published proposed regulatory amendments that would implement significant changes to leave entitlements for federally regulated employees. The proposed regulations support the implementation of the three new leave provisions introduced in the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, which received royal assent on June 20, 2024.
Ontario Court of Appeal Grants Leave to Appeal Acquittal in Benevides Decision, Opening Door to Expanded Workplace Safety Liability for Incidental Construction Workers
On June 9, 2025 the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision in Ontario (Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development) v. Benevides, granting leave to appeal the provincial offences appeal judge’s decision to the Court of Appeal. Background This case stems from a construction site incident that occurred in April of 2020 where eight spools…
Summer 2025 Updates for Social Services Employers
It has been a few unsettling months, and it looks like there will be more to come. We hope that you are able to find some time this summer to relax and recharge. Before you do, we wanted to bring to your attention some developments that may be important for your social services organization in the hopes it will make managing workplace issues easier.
Employers Have a Statutory Duty to Investigate Claims of Harassment and Authority to Discipline Off-Duty Conduct When It Manifests in the Workplace
The Ontario Court of Appeal rules that employers have a statutory duty to investigate claims of harassment and have the authority to discipline off-duty conduct when it manifests in the workplace.
Federal Government Publishes Revised Standard on Accessible Employment under the Accessible Canada Act
On May 29, 2025, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) announced its publication of a revised Accessibility Standard on Employment (Standard) under its mandate pursuant to the Accessible Canada Act (Act). The revised Standard, CAN/ASC-1.1:2024 (REV-2025), replaces the original version released in December 2024. Background The Act came into force on July 11, 2019, establishing ASC as…