What are the new paid medical leave entitlements under the Canada Labour Code? Since December 1, 2022, significant changes have been introduced to the Canada Labour Code (CLC), impacting federally regulated employers’ obligations towards their employees regarding paid medical leave. Under the new provisions of the CLC, federally regulated employers are mandated to provide their employees with up to 10 days of annual paid medical leave. This entitlement covers various situations, including: – Personal injury or illness – Organ or tissue donation – Medical appointments during working hours – Qua ..read more

How Can Employers Avoid Age Discrimination in the Workplace? As people live longer and retire later in their lives, age-related issues are becoming more and more salient for employers. Claims of discrimination, even if never proven in a court or tribunal, can cause severe reputational damage and lower workplace morale. We recommend taking precautions to steer clear of age discrimination before any potential claims crystallize. Older employees are often stereotyped as being inefficient, less technologically capable, unable to develop new skills, and so on.  Not only can this attitude infec ..read more

What Are the Consequences of Not Communicating Workplace Policy Clearly? An early 2024 case has demonstrated the risk that comes with inadequate communication of workplace policies to employees.  Boyer v Callidus Capital Corp, 2024 ONSC 20 considered the employer’s policies regarding carrying over of vacation time, whether deferred bonus payments were payable if an employee was not actively employed on the date of payment, and whether stock options would continue to vest following retirement. On each of these points, the Court held against the employer. Not only does an employer have to p ..read more

In today’s competitive job market, employers looking to gain an edge in hiring can do so by looking for ways to increase what they offer to their employees beyond just the paycheque. When negotiating employment contracts, in can be easy to get stuck on the bottom line, but employees are looking for much more than just renumeration. Compensation does not need to be a zero-sum game. By prioritizing the well-being and satisfaction of their employees by incorporating comprehensive benefits and a positive work environment into the employment contracts, employers can gain that edge in hiring. Given ..read more

Retirement isn’t always a one-way street anymore. Given the increased costs of living, more and more employees are deciding to either hold off on retiring or are un-retiring. This shift has some important legal implications, especially when it comes to how companies handle retirement and the rehiring of a would-be retired employee. When do employees have to retire? Employers do not have the right to dictate when an employee should retire. Mandatory retirement ages in most employment contexts are likely to be considered discrimination on the basis of age. As long as an employee is able to fill ..read more

Published By: THE GLOBE AND MAIL The legal fallout from dating at work is back in the headlines after the Royal Bank of Canada dismissed its chief financial officer for alleged misconduct. The Bank stated an internal investigation uncovered evidence showing that Nadine Ahn violated its code of conduct by engaging in an undisclosed personal relationship with a fellow employee that allegedly resulted in preferential treatment, including promotions and salary increases. This incident reflects the potential conflict of interest that can arise when staff and their subordinates enter ..read more

What is the reason for Tesla layoffs? In a strategic move, Tesla, the renowned electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has announced significant workforce reductions. The company will lay off more than 10 percent of its global employees, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. This decision comes as Tesla grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war in the competitive EV market. The departure of key executives further underscores the company’s instability. Drew Baglino, Tesla’s senior vice-president responsible for battery development, has tendered ..read more

It was a news release that quickly made headlines beyond Canada: RBC had dismissed its CFO and an interim CFO was stepping in. And it was the details that garnered the attention: “RBC was recently made aware of allegations involving [Nadine] Ahn and immediately launched an internal review and engaged outside legal counsel to investigate. “The investigation found evidence that, in contravention of the RBC Code of Conduct, Ms. Ahn was in an undisclosed close personal relationship with another employee which led to preferential treatment of the employee including promotion and compensatio ..read more

Employers in Ontario must be aware of the importance of creating strategies and policies to address mental health in the workplace, particularly with regard to human rights under Ontario legislation. Mental health is the leading cause of disability among employers of all sizes, and it’s important that employers create effective strategies to both support mental health in the workplace in general, as well as respond to individual employees experiencing difficulties. What are Employer Obligations Regarding Mental Health in the Workplace? Mental health challenges can be the basis for a disability ..read more

What is the reason for McKinsey Layoff? McKinsey & Co., the global consulting powerhouse, has announced a strategic move to streamline its workforce, targeting approximately 360 positions worldwide. This decision, affecting about 3% of its specialized and technically proficient employees, was unveiled on April 11. According to insights from Bloomberg, the job cuts will span various divisions, including design, data engineering, cloud, and software. A spokesperson for McKinsey underscored the rationale behind these adjustments, stating, “We invest in developing capabilities aligned with our ..read more