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

In Catch Engineering Partnership v. Mai, 2023 ABKB 279, the Alberta Court of King’s Bench awarded $112,320 in damages against a former employee who breached the non-solicitation provisions in his employment contract. This case underscores the importance for both employers and employees to understand the nuances of non-solicitation agreements and their implications within the legal framework of Ontario. What happened to cause Catch to file a claim against Mr. Mai? In Catch Engineering Partnership v. Mai, Mr. Mai, an engineer employed by Catch Engineering Partnership (“Catch”), resigned from his ..read more

How does AI impact employees’ workplace privacy? Artificial intelligence (AI) has been all over the news recently. It promises to transform the way we work, and its effects are being seen in various industries. How does this impact employees’ privacy at work? And is the law keeping up? Since 2022, provincially regulated workplaces in Ontario with 25 or more employees have had to have a written electronic monitoring policy. This would include any electronic monitoring that utilizes AI. Crucially, however, this only requires a written policy to be created and distributed. There are no actual lim ..read more

What is the reason for Li-Cycle layoffs? Li-Cycle, the battery recycler, is undergoing a significant restructuring, resulting in the layoff of 17% of its workforce globally, along with the departure of two executives. Ajay Kochhar, the President and CEO, stated that the company is shifting from a regional to a centralized management structure to better align with its focused priorities. This transition will involve approximately 60 job cuts, mostly at the corporate level. Kochhar expressed gratitude to the affected team members for their contributions towards Li-Cycle’s vision of a sustainable ..read more

What are the current dynamics of the Canadian job market in the first half of 2024? As we traverse through the first half of 2024, the Canadian job market continues to evolve, presenting both opportunities and challenges for employers and job seekers alike. Recent research from Robert Half sheds light on the current dynamics, providing valuable insights into employee job search intentions, motivations, and the demand for skilled workers. Understanding these trends is essential for businesses aiming to attract and retain top talent in a competitive landscape. David King, senior managing directo ..read more

Gender Discrimination in Managerial Positions: What do recent statistics reveal? A recent report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab revealed some unfortunate statistics regarding women in managerial positions in Canada. Of 37 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada is all the way back at 16th place. With the current pace of women being promoted into such positions, we can expect gender parity by 2129, more than 100 years from now. Changing this disappointing trend will require societal changes beyond simply tweaking legislat ..read more