All of our offices are presently open for business. As recognized leaders in the areas of employment and labour law, Hicks Morley is well-positioned to assist you in your compliance obligations, developing contingency plans and managing the health and safety of your workforce. We have developed a dedicated webpage as a resource regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to assist employers in navigating the potential impact this pandemic may have on your workplace.
Practice Area: Employment Law
We Welcome Two New Associates to the Firm
Hicks Morley is pleased to announce that two new associates have joined the firm in our Toronto Office, Jennifer Querney and Lesley Campbell. We wish them a warm welcome to the team!
Federal Government Waives EI Waiting Periods for Workers Affected by COVID-19
As part of this initiative, the government will be waiving the mandatory one-week waiting period for Employment Insurance sickness benefits for those workers who are in quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate as a result of the COVID-19.
Lesley A. Campbell
Lesley Campbell provides practical advice and representation to employers and management in both the private and public sectors on a wide range of employment, human rights, and labour issues such as wrongful dismissals, claims of discrimination and harassment, and grievances. Her practice includes employment litigation, human rights proceedings, arbitration advocacy, privacy, and judicial review. Lesley has appeared as counsel in all levels of court in Ontario (Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, Court of Appeal), the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as in various Ontario Tribunals. Lesley holds a Certified Information Privacy Professional – Canada (CIPP/C) designation from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
Jennifer J. Querney
Jennifer provides advice and representation to employers and management in both the private and public sector on labour, employment and human rights issues.
COVID-19 and Workplace Preparedness
Health officials in Canada have stated that the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains very low. That said, in recent weeks the virus has been top of mind for many, including employers. In this FTR Now, we discuss workplace pandemic planning and operational issues employers should be anticipating in the unlikely event of an outbreak.
Federal Government Clarifies Scheduling Requirements for On-Call Employees, Seeks Submissions on Hours of Work Requirements
The federal Labour Program has been holding consultations on the scheduling and hours of work provisions in the Canada Labour Code (Code) that came into force on September 1, 2019. The first round of consultations took place in the fall of 2019.
Ontario Introduces Plan to Reform Home and Community Care Services
On February 25, 2020, the Ontario government tabled Bill 175, Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020 (Bill 175). The legislation is intended to improve funding and access to home and community care for patients.
Labour Notes® Newsletter Features Article by Nadine Zacks on the Supreme Court Decision Regarding Canada Labour Code Safety Inspections
The January 28, 2020 issue of Labour Notes® features an article authored by Hicks Morley lawyer Nadine Zacks. This article explores one of the complications within the Canada Labor Code and the recent resolution of the Supreme Court that gives a clear parameter to employers as far they are legally responsible in relation to work locations and gives an overturn to the decision of the Federal Court that imposed unmanageable and impractical obligations.
Management Rights, Sick Leave under HOODIP and More
In our first HR Healthcheck of 2020, we discuss two cases you need to know about. The first deals with whether a scheduled medical procedure under conscious sedation falls within the “sick leave” provisions of HOODIP. The second case considers management rights under the central CUPE collective agreement and a Hospital’s right to transfer employees.