The holiday season is a time for people to come together and celebrate. As COVID-19 circumstances evolve, many employers are intending to return to in-person workplace celebrations for the first time since December 2019. All employers, regardless of size, should ensure that in addition to traditional party logistics, they take the time to develop a…
Practice Area: Human Rights
Federal Government Publishes Regulations Regarding Paid Medical Leave and Guidance on “Stacking” with Existing Leaves
On November 7, 2022, the federal government published Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Canada Labour Code (Medical Leave with Pay) (Regulations), regulatory amendments which will give effect to the new paid medical leave provisions under the Canada Labour Code (Code). Guidance on the issue of “stacking” of the new paid medical leave with…
Amanda Lawrence-Patel Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter Article on Bill 26
Canadian HR Reporter quoted Hicks Morley’s Amanda Lawrence-Patel in an article titled, “Ottawa proposes big changes to tackle sexual abuse.”
Canadian Human Rights Commission Updates Its Complaint Rules
On October 28, 2022, the Canadian Human Rights Commission (Commission) announced that it had updated its Complaint Rules (Updated Rules). The Updated Rules apply to all complaints received after October 19, 2022. The Updated Rules also apply to complaints entering the next stage in the Commission’s complaint process after October 19, 2022. In this Federal…
Ontario Divisional Court Finds Group Living Home Did Not Discriminate Against Disabled Resident by Enforcing a No Visitor Policy During the COVID-19 Outbreak
On September 22, 2022, the Ontario Divisional Court (Court) released Empower Simcoe v. JL, in which the Court set aside decisions of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal). The Court held that Empower Simcoe’s COVID-19 visitor policy (Policy), which temporarily limited visits to essential personnel and was later updated to allow outdoor family visits…
The Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO) 30th Annual Conference: Refocus. Reconnect. Recharge.
In “The Process of Litigating Human Rights Applications in Ontario and Across the Country,” Amy Tibble will speak about the process of litigating human rights applications with a review of procedural steps, evidentiary steps, preservation of information and more.
Systemic Discrimination: Prevention and Response
Systemic discrimination can manifest in any organization through seemingly disparate events arising from invisible yet ubiquitous biases. There are an increasing number of instances where employers and service providers are found to have engaged in a discriminatory practice against a broad collection of individuals on the basis of a protected ground.
Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Determines It Has Concurrent Jurisdiction with Labour Arbitrators to Decide Human Rights Claims
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) has determined that it has concurrent jurisdiction to decide claims of discrimination and harassment falling within the scope of a collective agreement governed by the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and the Police Services Act (PSA). The decision addresses a significant question of law arising from the 2021 decision…
We Welcome Associate Nigel McKechnie to Hicks Morley
Hicks Morley is pleased to announce that Nigel McKechnie has joined the firm as an associate in our Ottawa office.
Employers Take Note: Employees Entitled to Paid Time Off to Vote in Upcoming Municipal Election
Ontario-wide municipal elections will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022, and voting hours will run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Employers should be aware that under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (Act), all employees who are eligible to vote in the election are entitled to three consecutive hours during voting hours on election day to cast their…