Successfully represented a manufacturing employer in a grievance arbitration in which the termination of an employee for a health and safety incident was upheld.
Practice Area: Occupational Health
Ontario Divisional Court Finds Arbitrator’s Decision to Reinstate Terminated Grievors Was “Fatally Flawed”
On April 2, 2024, the Ontario Divisional Court released its decision in Metrolinx v. Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587, which was a judicial review of an arbitration decision rendered by the Grievance Settlement Board (GSB). The Court found that the decision of the arbitrator, in which he reinstated five grievors whose employment had been terminated…
Employers Should Plan Now for the April 8 Eclipse
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible in many parts of Eastern Canada. This will be a unique experience, but one that also has the potential to pose a health and safety risk to outdoor workers and any other workers who have work-related reasons to be outdoors at the time of…
OLRB Considers Employer’s Disclosure Obligations Under OHSA After Workplace Harassment Investigation
The Ontario Labour Relations Board (the OLRB) has provided guidance on the extent of an employer’s disclosure obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) when an investigation into workplace harassment has been conducted. In Shannon Horner v Stelco Inc. Lake Erie (Shannon Horner), the OLRB considered, for the first time, an employer’s disclosure…
Hicks Morley and 55 Partners Recognized in the 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory
Hicks Morley has once again been recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory. The firm ranked “Most Frequently Recommended” for labour relations in Toronto, “Consistently Recommended” for pensions and employee benefits in Toronto as well as labour relations in Ottawa, Kingston, Waterloo and London, and “Repeatedly Recommended” in the construction sector in Toronto.
Katherine Ford
Katherine ensures Hicks Morley’s lawyers are kept apprised of new developments in the law and legal practice, and she works with practice groups to incorporate these into the services they provide to clients.
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…
The Year in Review – 2023 Cases of Note
We are back with our annual review of the prior year’s notable cases that we believe will be of interest to employers and human resources professionals. We also identify some cases to watch for in 2024. Next week, we will bring you our review of notable 2023 legislative updates. Cases of Note Employment Termination of…
Carey O’Connor Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter Article About Employer Responsibilities Around Occupational Health and Safety
Canadian HR Reporter interviewed Hicks Morley’s Carey O’Connor for an article titled, “Supreme Court clarifies employer responsibilities around OHS.” Carey addresses a number of key takeaways for human resources professionals following the Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decision in R. v. Greater Sudbury (City).
“Owners” of Construction Projects Are Employers Under Ontario’s OHSA: More on a Recent Ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada
On November 9, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada (Supreme Court) issued a split decision in R. v. Greater Sudbury (City). The plurality of the Supreme Court upheld a decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal that an “owner” of a construction project can also be considered an “employer” with obligations to ensure safety on…