The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has ruled an employers’ conduct that creates mere emotional discomfort for employees during the accommodation process may not amount to discrimination. “What emerges from the Cillis v. Hamilton decision is an objective standard requiring employers to act reasonably, not perfectly,” says Jeff Goodman, a commercial employment law partner at […]
A series of major winter storms that shut down highways, closed schools and prompted travel warnings across parts of Ontario is renewing scrutiny of how employers apply return-to-office policies during emergency situations. During a severe snowstorm earlier this month, an internal memo sent to Ontario public servants by the provincial Ministry of Transportation indicated they […]
As pension regulators narrow their priorities heading into 2026, the Association of Canadian Pension Management is placing greater emphasis on flexible pension plan design, with a focus on member outcomes, governance and clarity. Korinne Collins, chief executive officer at the ACPM, notes flexibility across the accumulation and decumulation stages is rising on the industry’s agenda […]
The growing adoption of prohibitions against demanding sick notes to substantiate short-term absences, related to the health of employees or their immediate families, is among the emerging trends that are challenging employers in 2026. In November, British Columbia joined Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador in imposing […]
The new year will bring some big changes to the rules on in-office work for many employees across the country — including tens of thousands of provincial government staff in Ontario and Alberta who will be required back in the office full time. As of Jan. 5, Ontario provincial government employees will be expected to […]
An article on changes to Newfoundland and Labrador’s employee leave legislation was the most-read benefits story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the top 10 benefits stories of 2025: 1. What Newfoundland and Labrador-based employers need to know about changes to employee leave legislation 2. How national health-care legislation could impact benefits plan sponsors’ virtual […]
An article on an Ontario Superior Court decision on the use of enforceable termination clauses in employment contracts was the most-read human resources story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the top 10 HR stories of 2025: 1. Ontario court rules employer’s termination clause enforceable due to clear language, entitlements 2. Quebec employment legislation introducing […]
An article on Ontario’s proposed changes to preferred pharmacy network agreements 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. How Ontario’s proposed changes to preferred pharmacy networks could reshape drug plan costs 2. How predictability in the […]
As new pay transparency legislation comes into effect in British Columbia and Ontario, it’s important for small- and medium-sized employers to ensure they’re complying with provincial, territorial and federal regulations, says Mohamed Basma, general manager for small business services at ADP Canada. “This is pressing now more than ever as remote work is so much […]
Ontario’s signal that it may restrict or eliminate preferred pharmacy networks has created urgency for plan sponsors that rely on these arrangements to manage drug plan costs and access. Preferred pharmacy networks have been used in private drug plans for more than a decade. A PPN is a group of pharmacies selected because they offer […]