In the recent decision of L.N. v. Ray Daniel Salon & Spa, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) awarded an applicant $180,000 in damages for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect. In this case, the applicant was a recently arrived refugee to Canada. She had not yet received her work permit when she started…
Practice Area: Human Rights
Federal Government Launches Employment Equity Tool on Workforce Data
On February 2, 2024, the federal government launched a new website, Equi’Vision. It is an employment equity tool which the government states provides “user-friendly, easily comparable data on workforce representation rates and the pay gaps” experienced by women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities. These groups are the designated groups under…
Workplace Investigation Training Workshop: Investigation Fundamentals and Best Practices (Part 1)
The session will include instructional components, video demonstrations and discussion regarding strategies to deal with issues that can arise when conducting investigations. Attendees will receive a detailed digital manual entitled, “Hicks Morley’s Guide to Conducting Investigations into Workplace Complaints.”
Workplace Investigation Training Workshop: Applying What You Know (Part 2)
This session will begin with a brief overview of workplace investigation best practices. We will then turn our attention to an interactive exercise in which attendees will have the opportunity to use what they learned in Part 1 to develop and hone their skills.
Workplace Investigation Training Workshop
This session focuses on investigation fundamentals. Attendees will learn the key takeaways from case law and best practices for investigating workplace incidents. The morning portion of the session will include instructional components, video demonstrations and a discussion regarding strategies to deal with issues that can arise when conducting investigations. In the afternoon we will go over a brief overview of workplace investigation best practices and summarize what we have learned.
Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development: Fundamentals in Special Education Law
In a session titled “Health & Safety 101,” Sean Reginio will discuss school board obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and associated implications under the Ontario Human Rights Code as well as the impact of the OHSA on special education students, teachers and other educational workers.
Ontario Human Rights Commission Issues Policy Position on Caste-Based Discrimination
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (Commission) recently released a policy position addressing the issue of caste-based discrimination and confirming the Commission’s perspectives concerning caste-based discrimination as a form of intersectional discrimination contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code). In its Policy Position on Caste-Based Discrimination (Policy Position), the Commission provides its views on whether…
Looking Ahead to 2024: A Newsletter for Social Services Employers
Dear Friends, As we welcome 2024, we are back with another edition of Reaching Out. Over the last year, we have seen our social services clients continue to deal with budget challenges and labour shortages. Many are providing permanent and/or hybrid remote work arrangements, where possible, to attract and retain employees. Accordingly, we provide a…
2023 in Review – Key Legislative Updates
Last week we published “The Year in Review – 2023 Cases of Note.” This week we are back with our review of notable legislative updates from 2023 that we believe will be of interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators. We also identify some legislation to watch for in 2024. Ontario Employment…
Accommodating Mental Health in the Workplace: Advanced Accommodation Principles
Managing mental health issues in the workplace poses a considerable challenge to employers, who are often required to navigate difficult questions around employee privacy, employment preferences, and workplace rules and expectations with the duty to accommodate. Join us as we discuss the legal obligations that arise when working to accommodate employee mental health concerns and the best practices to keep in mind as they relate to accommodating mental health in the workplace.