Practice Area: Human Rights

Andrew Zabrovsky Discusses Family Status Protections on Global News

Hicks Morley’s Andrew Zabrovsky has was interviewed by Global News on Thursday, May 8, 2014 on workplace accommodations in light of the Federal Court of Appeal’s recent ruling to uphold its Canada (Attorney General) v. Johnstone decision. In Global News‘ video and accompanying article entitled “Court says employers must try to accommodate parents child-care obligations”…

Andrew Zabrovsky Quoted in the National Post

Hicks Morley’s Andrew Zabrovsky was quoted in the National Post on Thursday, May 8, 2014 in an article entitled, “Employers need to be more flexible when work schedules conflict with childcare arrangements, court rules“. The article discusses the Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling to uphold its decision in Canada (Attorney General) v. Johnstone regarding an employer’s…

Hicks Morley featured in Benefits and Pensions Monitor

On May 7, 2014, Benefits and Pensions Montior cited Hicks Morley’s recent FTR Now entitled “Federal Court of Appeal Upholds Johnstone, Clarifies Nature and Scope of Family Status Protections” which reviewed the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold an employer’s obligation to provide workplace accommodation for an employee’s childcare needs in Canada (Attorney General)…

Employer Permitted to Define “Spouse” under Benefit Plan to Exclude Married but Separated Spouses

· 5 min read

In a recent decision of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (“Tribunal”) in VanderLinde v. Oshawa (City)  (“VanderLinde”), the Tribunal found that it is not discriminatory for an employer to require that an employee’s legally married spouse be living with the employee as a condition of eligibility as a spouse under its group benefit plan. In…

Reaching Out – Fifth Edition

· 35 min read

Dear Friends, Well, the verdict is in. Six more weeks of winter according to our furry rodent weather prognosticators! And what better way to fill those cold blustery evenings than something interesting and topical to read? Welcome to the Winter 2014 Edition of Reaching Out, our newsletter specifically focussed on issues relevant, and of particular…

Just in Time for the New Year: The AODA and its January 1, 2014 Deadlines

· 5 min read

The January 1, 2014 deadline to comply with a number of standards in the Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation (the “IAS Regulation”) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA”) is fast approaching for many organizations. In this FTR Now, we provide a brief overview of some key obligations required by that date….

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Extends “Family Status” Protection to Care for Mother-in-Law

· 3 min read

In a recent decision of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (the “Tribunal”), Hicks v. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Tribunal found that “family status” protection under the Canadian Human Rights Act (the “Act”) can extend to eldercare responsibilities for “in-laws.” The Complainant was employed by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (“HRSDC”) when…

Andrew Zabrovsky Quoted in Canadian Lawyer

Hicks Morley’s Andrew Zabrovksy was quoted in the November 2013 edition of Canadian Lawyer magazine in an article entitled “A coming of age for family status”. The article discusses human rights considerations with respect to family status, with a focus on childcare needs, family illness, and elderly parents. Andrew commented on the duty to accommodate…

School Board Client Update

· 12 min read

The following represents a few notable decisions made by the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and arbitrators in 2013 that are relevant to school boards in Ontario. FACEBOOK POSTING BY TEACHER WARRANTS DISCIPLINE In Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and Simcoe County District School Board, 2013 CanLII 62014 (CanLII), the…