Practice Area: Employment Law

Past Conduct, Present Cause: Ontario Court Upholds After-Acquired Cause in Birnbaum v. Dr. Chan

· 3 min read

What happens when an employer discovers serious misconduct only after terminating an employee without cause? In Birnbaum v. Dr. Chan, the Ontario Superior Court confirmed that employees are not insulated from the consequences of serious misconduct committed before termination simply because it was discovered afterwards.

Jessica DeForest

Jessica is a labour and employment lawyer practicing out of Hicks Morley’s Waterloo office. She advises employers on various matters related to litigation, employment law and human rights.

Isabel de Wolde

Isabel’s multi-jurisdictional background enhances her advocacy for clients by enabling her to anticipate and respond to legal issues across diverse legislative and workplace contexts. This perspective informs her practice across various areas of employment and labour law, including litigation, human rights, occupational health and safety, and workplace policies and contracts.

Katya Gromyko

Katya Gromyko is a law clerk for the firm’s litigation practice group, bringing years of experience in labour and employment law. Katya has built a strong foundation in litigation and also applies her depth of expertise to non-litigation matters. Her work spans electronic case management and discovery, and she continues to expand her knowledge in…

Ontario’s Municipal Accountability Act, 2025 Receives Royal Assent

· 2 min read

Recent legislative developments have introduced key changes to municipal accountability in Ontario. Stephanie Jeronimo outlines what Ontario’s Municipal Accountability Act, 2025 means for municipalities, including new conduct standards, oversight and enforcement measures.

Attendance Management Training Workshop 201

Register Fee: $195.00 plus $25.35 (13% HST) Total $220.35 per person Overview Employee absenteeism is one of the most challenging issues an employer faces and it can impact productivity and morale in the workplace. In addressing absenteeism issues, employers must be aware of the interplay between their legitimate expectation that employees attend work regularly and…

Attendance Management Training Workshop 101

Register Fee: $195 plus $25.35 (13% HST) Total $220.35 per person Overview Employee absenteeism is one of the most challenging issues an employer faces and it can impact productivity and morale in the workplace. In addressing absenteeism issues, employers must be aware of the interplay between their legitimate expectation that employees attend work regularly and…

Workplace Investigation Training Workshop

Register Fee: $800 plus $104 (13% HST) Total $904 per person Overview This session focuses on investigation fundamentals. Attendees will learn the key takeaways from case law and best practices for investigating workplace incidents including: workplace harassment and violence complaints discrimination and harassment complaints under the Ontario Human Rights Code employee misconduct, such as suspected sick…