An article that examined an Ontario court’s ruling on an employer’s termination clause was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Ontario court rules employer’s termination clause enforceable due to clear language, entitlements 2. DEI pullback could […]
A recent Ontario Superior Court decision demonstrates that it remains possible for employers to insert enforceable termination clauses in employment contracts. For some five years now, a host of decisions have struck down as unenforceable termination clauses that purport to displace employees’ right to reasonable notice or pay in lieu thereof. Almost always, the basis […]
Over the past decade, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have helped expose the prevalence of workplace bullying. But, as some organizations pull back on DEI due to backlash or budget cuts, it may signal to staff that addressing bullying is no longer a priority. This could lead to reduced awareness and training on respectful workplaces, […]
As remote and hybrid work becomes commonplace, Canadian employers may be unknowingly putting themselves at risk by overlooking key compliance obligations, says Natalka Haras, senior counsel at ADP Canada. “Although there are certain employers for which remote work is not new as an idea, certainly with technology, it’s easier than it’s ever been [and] I […]
Changes to British Columbia’s employment standards legislation to no longer allow employers to require sick notes for short-term absences are welcome after a decade of advocacy, says Doctors of BC president Dr. Charlene Lui. She said the group is “very pleased” that the province has moved to eliminate the need for employees to get “routine […]
The European Union is imposing strict rules on artificial intelligence activities that pose high and unacceptable risks, including those deployed in the workplace. The AI Act, which is being implemented in stages through to Aug. 2, 2026, applies to all member states without the need for local legislation to be adopted, though some states may […]
An article on an Ontario court’s decision that an employer’s return-to-workplace request amounted to constructive dismissal was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Ontario court rules employer’s return-to-workplace request amounts to constructive dismissal 2. Nestle, Unifor […]
Ontario’s small claims court has ruled that recalling an employee from a remote working arrangement to in-person work can amount to a constructive dismissal giving rise to liability for damages. The employee in question, Lesley Byrd, had worked for Welcome Home Children’s Residence Inc. in Ottawa since 2018, but without a written contract of employment. […]
An article on a series of court cases dealing with remote working arrangements in Quebec was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Quebec’s approach to remote workers’ rights holds lessons for other provinces: lawyer 2. How […]
When the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, companies across Canada scrambled to shift their employees to home setups. For the dozen or so staff at Edmonton-based technology company Punchcard Systems, the new reality meant figuring out new patterns of how to communicate as they would have at their downtown office. […]