Workplace Investigation Training – Ottawa

Agenda This workshop focuses on essential investigation skills required by HR Professionals who are charged with investigating workplace incidents including: health and safety complaints Bill 168 workplace harassment and violence complaints discrimination and harassment complaints under the Human Rights Code employee misconduct, such as suspected sick leave abuse or time theft Following instructional components, attendees…

Workplace Investigation Training – Toronto

Agenda This workshop focuses on essential investigation skills required by HR Professionals who are charged with investigating workplace incidents including: health and safety complaints Bill 168 workplace harassment and violence complaints discrimination and harassment complaints under the Human Rights Code employee misconduct, such as suspected sick leave abuse or time theft Following instructional components, attendees…

Supreme Court of Canada on Prima Facie Discrimination and a Plaintiff’s Burden of Proof

The Supreme Court of Canada recently overturned a decision of the Québec  Human Rights Tribunal (“Tribunal”) which found that Bombardier had discriminated against a pilot, Mr. Latif, by refusing to provide him with training on certain Bombardier aircraft after U.S. authorities denied his security clearance. The unanimous Court found that there was insufficient evidence to…

Workplace Investigation Training

A one-day interactive workshop on how to conduct an effective workplace investigation. Agenda This workshop focuses on essential investigation skills required by HR Professionals who are charged with investigating workplace incidents. Following instructional components, attendees will work, in small groups, through case scenarios designed to highlight strategies which can be used to deal with issues…

Discrimination in the Provision of Services – Is Your Organization Vulnerable?

In the 2012/13 fiscal year, 21% of applications filed with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario alleged discrimination with respect to goods, service and facilities. In addition, the introduction of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act has increased awareness and focus on providing services in a way that is inclusive and accessible. This conference will…

OHRC Develops Policy on Removing the “Canadian Experience” Barrier for Job Applicants

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (“OHRC”) recently posted a new policy directive entitled “Policy on Removing the “Canadian experience” barrier” which sets out the Commission’s position as follows: . . . a strict requirement for “Canadian experience” is prima facie discrimination (discrimination on its face) and can only be used in very limited circumstances. The…

Significant decision on establishing “prima facie discrimination” rendered by the Court of Appeal for Ontario

The Court of Appeal for Ontario has rendered a significant decision in Peel Law Association v. Pieters regarding the test for establishing a prima facie case of discrimination. The Court upheld a finding of the HRTO that race and colour were factors in the questioning by a librarian of three applicants (two lawyers and a…

Workplace Equity Guide Publishes Article by Carolyn Cornford Greaves

Hicks Morley’s Carolyn Cornford Greaves authored an article for the March 2013 edition of Workplace Equity Guide. The article entitled, “HRTO Considers Allegations of Age Discrimination in Employer Hiring Practices” discusses a recent decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario that reaffirms that an employer’s decision not to interview or hire an older job…

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…

Lauri Reesor Quoted in Canadian Lawyer Legal Feeds

Hicks Morley’s Lauri Reesor was quoted in the December 7, 2012 edition of Canadian Lawyer Legal Feeds. In an article entitled “Case law gap in age-related workplace discrimination,” Lauri comments on the difficulty of addressing workplace discrimination based on age-related disability. She emphasizes that encouraging older workers to retire may constitute discrimination however, once an…