Terminations During the Probationary Period: Three Common Assumptions
Many employers like to take the first few months of a new employee’s employment to decide whether their new hire is the right addition to the team. Some like to call it a probation, others, a trial or evaluation period. Irrespective of what it is called I have noticed three recurring assumptions about this initial […]
Pregnancy-Related Discrimination
Background Natalya Golovaneva came to me for guidance two weeks before her hearing before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in July 2015. She was determined to bring to light what she strongly felt was discrimination in the workplace on account of her pregnancy, which ultimately cost her a job. She had returned to school […]
The State Has No Place In The Bedroom Of The Nation… But Does Your Employer?
In 1968, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau ushered in significant changes to the Criminal Code, which had until then criminalized homosexuality, with the following well-known pronouncement: There is no place for the state in the bedroom of the nation. What is done in private between two adults does not concern the Criminal Code. Although […]
How Enforceable are Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements in Employment Contracts?
It is common for clients to seek advice about the legality of non-competition and non-solicitation clauses (sometimes referred to as “restrictive covenants”) in their employment contracts. For someone who has recently lost their job, the idea of having to sit on the bench for months or face risking a law suit can present a serious […]
Working in Retail? Ontario is Trying to Protect Your Employment Rights.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour posted a bulletin on October 16, 2013 about how Ontario is trying to protect the rights of retail workers by promoting safety and fairness at the workplace. NEWS Ontario is taking action to protect retail workers’ rights and promote fairness in the workplace by launching a province-wide employment standards retail […]
Double-check your emails before pushing “Send”! You might have an employment issue on your hands…
Whether we like it or not, most of us find ourselves spending a significant part of our work week receiving and responding to e-mails. It might be to set up an appointment with a client, ordering stock from a supplier, or even sharing a joke with a colleague. However, sometimes in an attempt to be […]
Can you get fired for NOT taking your breaks?
Ah…the age old question, how do you impress your boss? To achieve this end, many people are inclined to work through their breaks and even lunch hours to show how effective and hard working they are. However, it seems that going that extra mile may be a thing of the past. Employers growing concerns surrounding […]
