Court Finds that Placing Employee on Unpaid Leave for Failure to Comply with Vaccination Policy was not Constructive Dismissal

In Parmar v Tribe Management Inc., the British Columbia Supreme Court recently found that an employee was not constructively dismissed when she was placed on an unpaid leave of absence for refusing to comply with her employer’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy (Policy). The Court held that the employer’s decision to place the employee on the…

Court Confirms Mitigation Efforts Do Not Extend Limitation Period

In Andrew Scott v. Community Living Temiskaming South, 2021 ONSC 5402, Justice Koke confirmed the importance of bringing employment-related legal claims to the right forum and confirmed that, in the context of claims for constructive dismissal, remaining with your employer to mitigate your damages will not extend the two year limitations period for commencing an…

Appellate Court Overturns WSIAT Decision That Held Constructive Dismissal Claim Barred by WSIA

In Morningstar v. WSIAT (Morningstar), the Divisional Court partially overturned a decision of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) that had barred a constructive dismissal claim which was based on alleged workplace harassment from proceeding in Superior Court. The WSIAT had found that the claim fell within the entitlement for chronic mental stress…

Court Finds IDEL Regulation Under ESA Precludes Constructive Dismissal Claim at Common Law

In Taylor v. Hanley Hospitality Inc., the Ontario Superior Court considered the interaction between the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave regulation (IDEL Regulation) made under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and a claim for constructive dismissal at common law. It held that the IDEL Regulation precludes a constructive dismissal claim where employees’ hours are reduced…

Superior Court Finds Ontario’s IDEL Regulation Does Not Preclude Constructive Dismissal Claim at Common Law

The Ontario Superior Court recently considered the interaction of the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave Regulation (IDEL Regulation) made under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)and a claim for constructive dismissal at common law. In Coutinho v. Ocular Health Centre Ltd., the Court dismissed the employer’s position that the IDEL Regulation constituted a defence to a…

Ontario Court of Appeal Upholds $1.27 Million Damages Award Against Employer for Breach of Fixed-Term Employment Contract

In McGuinty v. 1845035 Ontario Inc. (McGuinty Funeral Home), the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision awarding the respondent over $1.27 million in damages for constructive dismissal. Background The respondent had sold his family’s funeral business to the appellant employer and entered into a 10-year transitional consulting services agreement (TCSA) in 2012….