Dear Friends, Spring is just around the corner and with the changing of the season, what better time for us to welcome our second edition of College Update! Hicks Morley’s College Practice Group is pleased to periodically provide our College clients with specific information relevant to your particular interests. In this edition we discuss labour…
Practice Area: Human Rights
HRTO Considers Whether University’s Response to Potentially Volatile Situation Was Discriminatory
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario recently provided helpful guidance for employers and educational institutions which are faced with potential unrest due to competing opinions or political views, the genesis of which might be one’s place of origin or ethnic origin. In the case at hand, which involved the removal by a university of controversial…
George Vuicic Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter
Hicks Morley’s George Vuicic was quoted in the March 11, 2013 edition of Canadian HR Reporter in an article entitled, “Employers have duty to accommodate child-care needs: Federal Court.” The article discusses a recent landmark court decision that confirms employers have an obligation to try to provide accommodation for an employee’s child-care needs. In the…
Accommodating Childcare Needs: Understanding Your Obligations
In a recent edition of FTR Now, we reported on two significant Federal Court decisions, Johnstone v. Canada and Seeley v. Canadian National Railway, which confirmed that employers have an obligation to accommodate their employees’ childcare needs. Since the date that FTR Now was published, these two decisions have continued to generate a considerable amount…
Workplace Investigation Training
This workshop focuses on essential investigation skills required by HR Professionals and In-House Counsel who are charged with investigating workplace incidents. Attendance at this session will include a detailed manual entitled, “Hicks Morley’s Guide to Conducting Investigations into Workplace Complaints”. Agenda 8:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 1. Opening and Welcome Effective Investigations This session…
University’s Removal of Controversial Posters Not Discriminatory under Human Rights Code
In its recent decision SAIA v. Carleton University, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (“Tribunal”) found that the decision by Carleton University to remove certain posters from its campus was not discriminatory, nor was it driven by discriminatory animus against Palestinian students. The University had a policy that posters must be approved by the appropriate…
Kathryn Meehan Quoted in the Canadian Labour Reporter
Hicks Morley’s Kathryn Meehan was quoted in the February 19, 2013 edition of Canadian Labour Reporter in an article entitled, “Bosses need good reason to ban tattoos: Lawyers.” The article discusses the recent award in Ottawa Hospital v CUPE. In this case, the Arbitrator had struck down the policy on tattoos and piercings and concluded…
George Vuicic Quoted in The Lawyers Weekly
Hicks Morley’s George Vuicic was quoted in the February 22, 2013 edition of The Lawyers Weekly in an article entitled, “Fed Court rejects strict test for ‘family status’ claims.” The article discusses two recent cases by the Federal Court which has affirmed that employers may be obliged to adjust their work demands in order to…
George Vuicic Mentioned in the Financial Post
Hicks Morley’s George Vuicic was quoted in the February 2015 edition of Canadian Lawyer InHouse in an article entitled, “Court releases ‘game-changing’ decision on federally regulated employees.” This article discusses the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision in Wilson v. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. where it held that federally regulated employers may dismiss employees without…
Federal Court Affirms Employer’s Obligation to Accommodate Childcare Needs
The Federal Court of Canada has upheld the finding of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (“Tribunal”) that “family status” under the Canadian Human Rights Act (“CHRA”) includes a parent’s obligations to care for a child, and that an employer is obligated to provide accommodation for an employee’s childcare needs. This decision is the latest in…