On November 19, 2020, the Ontario government announced that it is launching a series of education and enforcement campaigns (“inspection blitzes”) to ensure Ontario businesses are taking the necessary steps for the safety of employees, consumers and the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaigns have been developed in consultation with local health…
Practice Area: Occupational Health
Nadine Zacks Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter on Screening Workers for COVID
Canadian HR Reporter quoted Hicks Morley’s Nadine Zacks in a October 1, 2020 article titled “Are you screening workers for COVID?” Employers in Ontario are now required to apply a daily COVID-19 screening test to employees and essential visitors before they enter the workplace. As noted in the article, employers should keep appropriate records so…
COVID-19 Leave in Canada Labour Code to be Extended
Early on September 30, 2020, the federal House of Commons passed Bill C-4, COVID-19 Response Measures Act. It amends the Leave Related to COVID-19 provisions of the Canada Labour Code to extend the leave to September 25, 2021. It also enacts the Canada Recovery Benefits Act which establishes certain benefits as a result of COVID-19….
Lucy Wu
Lucy is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. She provides advice and representation to employers in both the private and public sector on a wide-range of labour, employment and human rights issues. Having held a management role prior to commencing law school, Lucy is uniquely positioned to assist employers and management in navigating various labour and employment issues.
Alia Rashid
Alia Rashid, a lawyer with Hicks Morley’s Toronto office, provides advice to employers and management in both the private and public sectors on labour, employment and human rights issues. This includes wrongful dismissal actions, employment standards, labour disputes, grievance arbitrations, human rights and accommodation.
Evon J. Gayle
Evon Gayle, a lawyer with Hicks Morley’s Waterloo office, provides advice to employers and management in both the private and public sectors on human resources issues. This involves labour, employment law and employment equity, workers’ compensation, human rights and accommodation, occupational health and safety, and anti-racism policy development and implementation.
Danika L. Winkel
Danika represents a broad range of public- and private-sector employers—both small and large—in trials, hearings, motions, applications, judicial reviews and appeals. In addition to that work, she provides proactive, day-to-day advice to help employers avoid litigation.
Canada Labour Code COVID-19 Leave Extended by an Additional 4 Weeks
The COVID-19 leave available under the Canada Labour Code has been extended an additional 4 weeks, from 24 weeks to 28 weeks, effective September 4, 2020. This change is to align the leave with the recent increase to the number of weeks an employee can receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
Ontario (Again) Updates Its COVID-19 Self-Assessment
Ontario employers who are planning for an eventual return to work have been keeping a close eye on the province’s COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool (Tool). The Tool directs Ontarians to self-isolate in certain circumstances. This is important because it relates to employers’ Occupational Health and Safety Act duties and their duty to provide statutorily-protected leaves under the Employment Standards Act, 2000.
Bill 195 Passes: Declared Emergency Will End But Emergency Orders Will Continue
On July 21, 2020, Bill 195, Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 received Royal Assent. The Ontario government has announced that the new Act will be proclaimed in force on July 24, 2020. As set out in greater detail in our FTR Now of July 15, 2020, this means that the COVID-19 declared emergency will come to an end on July 24, 2020.