As 2025 comes to a close, social services employers face important changes shaping the workplace. Mornelle Lee, Madeline Lusk, and Michael S. Smyth share key insights on the rise of AI in HR, enforcing Last Chance Agreements and navigating new compliance rules significant changes under the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025 – helping employers organizations prepare for 2026.
Topic: Arbitration
School Boards Take Note: Arbitrator Finds Class Size Maxima Still Apply to Mainstream Classes with Special Needs Students Expecting to Receive Less than Full Credit
In this School Board Update, Hicks Morley’s Michael Hines and Brittany Bates review the recent decision in Avon Maitland District School Board v Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, where Arbitrator Robert Herman concluded that standard class size maxima pursuant to the collective agreement still apply even when mainstream classes include special needs students expecting to receive less than full credit.
Arbitration Workshop
For human resources professionals tasked with maintaining workplace labour relations, navigating an organization’s grievance and arbitration process can present unique challenges—particularly if you aren’t yet familiar with key aspects and strategic considerations along the way. This hands-on workshop has been designed to equip both new and more experienced members of your labour relations team with the skills necessary to prepare a case for grievance arbitration.