blog

The Government of Canada has passed new federal legislation to protect employees from harassment and violence in the workplace. On January 1, 2021 the new Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations will come into force to provide even more support for federally regulated employees. Currently, the existing legislation, Bill C-65, addresses prevention, response, and support …

New Regulations Against Harassment For Federally Regulated Employees Read More »

You’ve been let go and your employer offered you a severance package. Is it fair? Read our article to learn how severance packages are calculated and what needs to be taken into consideration before signing off. How are severance packages calculated? How severance packages are calculated depends on if you have an employment contract with …

What You Need To Know About Severance Packages Read More »

Employment contracts are the framework of the employment relationship and can have important implications that may last for years. Although some employment contracts may be intimidating, Ontario courts are increasingly employee-friendly and often strike down employment contracts that are overly harsh, unclear, or illegal.   Employment contracts are increasingly more common. In 2020, the Ontario Court …

Employment Contracts: What You Need to Know Read More »

The Supreme Court of Canada released Heller v. Uber earlier today, siding with the employee and allowing the class action to proceed. Monkhouse Law represented an intervenor before the SCC. Summary (updated 9:59am June 26, 2020): The Supreme Court majority decision, written by Justices Abella and Rowe found that the arbitration provision was unconscionable because …

Heller v. Uber Class Action – Green Light for Gig Economy Workers Read More »

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to significantly impact workplaces in Canada and around the globe. Due to severe economic hardship, many employers have temporarily laid off their employees and face uncertainty as to when their employees can return to work. Are you a federally regulated employee? Federally regulated employees are governed by the Canada Labour Code …

Extension of Temporary Layoff Periods for Federally Regulated Employees (Updated Dec 10 2020) Read More »

Toronto and Peel Region moved to Phase 2 of Ontario’s reopening plan as of today, June 24, 2020. The reopening will impact employees, many may face many new challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on to learn about some of the potential employment issues that may accompany Stage 2 and how to …

Toronto Stage 2 Reopening: Information for Employees Read More »

It happens all too often: an employee is terminated, finds the perfect new job in the industry, and then is notified by their past employer that they are breaking a non-competition, non-solicitation, or confidentiality clause in their past employment contract. These provisions, which all fall under the umbrella of “restrictive covenants” and are also known …

Restrictive Covenants in Employment Contracts (Updated Oct 28 2021) Read More »

With the COVID-19 pandemic employees and employers often go back to the employment agreements to review their rights and obligations in case of termination. Beware! What you read in the contract might not be the full story. Recently, the Ontario Court of Appeal rendered a very important decision that clarifies that if any part of …

Ontario Court of Appeal 2020: Illegal Provisions Invalidate Contractual Severance Pay Limitations Read More »

Is jury duty mandatory in Ontario? Currently, Ontario allows a jury of six people to assess damages and decide issues of fact in civil cases, except in certain situations where it’s prohibited by statute. It is the civic duty of all Canadian citizens 18 years of age and older to serve as a juror if …

The Current Status of Jury Duty in Ontario for Employees Read More »

We have prepared a helpful infographic to guide returning to work after while the economy is opening up after the COVID-19 lockdown. Decision Tree for Employees and Employers: How To Make Return to Work Decision  Monkhouse Law is an employment law firm in Toronto with a particular focus on employee and workers’ issues. If we …

How To Make Return To Work Decision After COVID-19 Lockdown Read More »