In 2017, in its decision in Saadati v. Moorhead, the Supreme Court of Canada addressed the question of what constitutes a compensable mental injury and the kind of evidence needed to prove that injury. The Court of Appeal recently revisited this question in its decision in Bothwell v. London Health Sciences Centre. Facts of the Case … Continue reading Saadati v. Moorhead Revisited – Proving Mental Distress Damages
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Changed Substratum – When your job duties no longer match your employment contract
Employment law has numerous terms or concepts that are not self-explanatory to lay people. Constructive dismissal and mitigation efforts are a couple of examples of this. Unless you are an employment lawyer, their meanings are not immediately obvious. There are also some obscure terms or concepts that can be foreign even to employment lawyers. The … Continue reading Changed Substratum – When your job duties no longer match your employment contract
When Does A Limitation Period Start?
From time to time, potential clients will contact me about a possible lawsuit that is already statute-barred. In other words, the limitation period has already expired. When this happens, I explain to them that their options are very limited. This is because the expiration of the limitation period can be a complete defence to that … Continue reading When Does A Limitation Period Start?
How are my years of service with my employer calculated?
The question posed in the title above seems simple, doesn't it? To calculate years of service, all one has to do is take the start date of employment and count the number of years until the end date. Done. Easy, right? But wait. Before you go, I have a few other questions for you. What … Continue reading How are my years of service with my employer calculated?
What is a signature in the Digital Age?
The pandemic has forced all of us to pivot from many of our previous modes of carrying out our day-to-day activities. Vaccine certificates are required in order to sit down for a meal at a restaurant. Masks and daily health screenings are needed before our children head out the door to go to school. Screen … Continue reading What is a signature in the Digital Age?
COVID-19 – Constructive Dismissal Update Revisited
In my last post, which you can find here, I wrote about section 7 of O. Reg. 228/20 entitled Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (the “IDEL Regulation”) and how it affects an employee's claim for constructive dismissal. Section 7 of this Regulation of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) states: (1) The following does not constitute constructive dismissal if … Continue reading COVID-19 – Constructive Dismissal Update Revisited
COVID-19 – Constructive Dismissal Update
As many employers are aware, not long after the start of the pandemic, the provincial government enacted legislation to preclude employees from advancing a claim of constructive dismissal based on a temporary lay-off prompted by COVID-19. More information on constructive dismissal can be found here. Specifically, the government passed O. Reg. 228/20 entitled Infectious Disease … Continue reading COVID-19 – Constructive Dismissal Update
I Have Just Been Let Go. What Happens To My Bonus Now?
Quite often, when I am asked by a client to review a severance package, the entitlement to a bonus is an important factor. In some cases, the employer historically pays a bonus, which varies in amount from year to year, but is entirely gratuitous with no connection whatsoever to the performance of the employee or … Continue reading I Have Just Been Let Go. What Happens To My Bonus Now?
As A Union Member, Can I Sue My Employer?
I often receive phone calls from employees who are members of a union with inquiries about claims that they would like to pursue against their employers. Unfortunately, except in very limited circumstances, there is little that I can do as an employment lawyer to help them. The limited circumstances where I can assist a union … Continue reading As A Union Member, Can I Sue My Employer?
COVID-19 – Urgent Applications During the Pandemic
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, courts across the province ceased operations almost entirely. Â At present, in the Superior Court of Justice, the only civil cases to be adjudicated are those considered urgent in nature. Â A link to the Notice issued by Chief Justice Morawetz setting out the various kinds of urgent … Continue reading COVID-19 – Urgent Applications During the Pandemic