Practice Area: Employment Law

Court Orders Employee Who Breached Fiduciary Duty to Pay Former Employer $20 Million

· 3 min read

An Ontario Court recently awarded damages of $20 million for breach of fiduciary duty to Atlas Copco Canada Inc. (Atlas), from a former employee, in Atlas Copco Canada Inc. v. Hillier. The employee (Defendant) had been employed with Atlas as a general manager of one of its divisions and later as a vice-president. The fraudulent…

MOL’s ESA Guide Update for Equal Pay Provisions

· 2 min read

We recently reported on the coming into force of the equal pay for equal work changes under Bill 148, Reminder: Equal Pay for Equal Work Provisions in Force April 1, 2018. The Ministry of Labour has recently updated its online Guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Guide) to address equal pay for equal work…

2018 Ontario Budget Tabled

· 1 min read

On March 28, 2018, the Ontario government tabled its Budget 2018, A Plan for Care and Opportunity. We are currently reviewing the Budget and an FTR Now highlighting initiatives of particular interest to employers, human resource professionals and pension plan administrators will be available shortly on our website.

Appellate Court Confirms Employer not Liable for Defamation for a Negative Reference Where the Reference is True

· 2 min read

The Divisional Court has affirmed that an employer is not liable for defamation where a candid and truthful reference about a former employee has been provided. In Papp v Stokes et al, the plaintiff had sued his former employer (Stokes Economic Consulting) and its President (Ernest Stokes) for defamation, wrongful dismissal, punitive, exemplary and aggravated…

Court Finds Employer Took Appropriate Steps to Change Terms of Employment – No Constructive Dismissal

· 4 min read

In Lancia v. Park Dentistry, the Ontario Superior Court found that an employer who wished to change the terms of employment did not constructively dismiss a long-term employee because she was provided with 18 months’ working notice as well as a new contract with a signing bonus. The plaintiff worked as dental hygienist for the…

Appellate Court Finds Employee Entitled to Bonus Which Vested after the End of the Notice Period

· 6 min read

In Bain v. UBS Securities Canada Inc., the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision which awarded an employee who was dismissed without cause in February 2013 his bonus entitlements for 2012 and the first three months of 2013, as well as for the 18-month notice period. David Bain worked for UBS as…

Reminder: Equal Pay for Equal Work Provisions in Force April 1, 2018

· 2 min read

On April 1, 2018, amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 regarding equal pay for equal work will come into force. Among other things, the provisions prohibit employers from paying different rates of pay to their employees because of a difference in employment status, where the employees perform substantially the same kind of work in…

Court Rules Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Manager Outside Scope of Release with Employer

· 2 min read

In Watson v The Governing Council of the Salvation Army, the plaintiff sued her former manager (Manager) for sexual harassment after having already settled the termination of her employment with her former employer, the Salvation Army. In her statement of claim, she sought a damage award for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional harm and breach…

Regulation Made Under School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 Sets Out Minister’s Authority as Crown Representative

· 1 min read

On March 1, 2018, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 50/18 “Minister’s Authority as Crown Representative” made under the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 (Act). O. Reg. 50/18 sets out the Minister’s authority to exercise the powers of the Crown under the Act. In table format, the Regulation specifies the general nature of the Crown…