employment contracts
Termination clauses: (Yet) another one bites the dust
I advise employers and employees and therefore regularly draft and review termination clauses. The issue of whether a termination clause complies with the minimum notice requirements set out in the Employment Standards Act (the “ESA”) may be the most litigated issue in employment law over the past 5 years. So employment lawyers like me pay close attention to what the courts are saying on this issue.
Top 10 most-read First Reference Talks blog posts for 2019
This year on the First Reference Talks blog, we’ve been covering some of the hot topics in employment and labour law and employee management. Making the list this year are blog posts on the topic of termination (again), on breaching confidentiality, privacy and the duty to accommodate among others.
Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk
The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with contracting out of the Ontario ESA, entitlements to public holidays and discrimination against a job applicant.
Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk
The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with the CRA’s new payment on filing policy, termination provisions and employment insurance benefits.
Termination clause update: New developments concerning benefit continuation and just cause language
We are not long into 2019 and yet one thing already seems clear – the law concerning employment contract termination clauses will continue to be the focus of a great deal of litigation in Ontario. In just the past few months alone, new decisions from the Superior Court have helped to advance the law and provide further guidance to employers on proper drafting of termination clauses.
Differences between executive and non-executive employment contracts
Executive employment contracts are drafted, unusually, in favor of the employee, rather than the employer as is the case in 99% of all non-executive employment contracts. This is not unreasonable, however.
Business purchasers use employment contracts to try to ‘cover their assets’ – Can it work?
In the case of Krishnamoorthy v. Olympus Inc., was the offer of employment by the new employer adequate consideration, thus creating a new binding contract?
Employee vs independent contractor: The dangers of misclassification
It is essential that employers understand and consider the risks of misclassifying employees as contractors, even when the individual themselves is the one requesting or proposing the contractor relationship.
Startup employment contracts
Canadian startups and any company for that matter should have an employment contract for all new hires. An employment contract helps both parties understand the employment relationship, protects the start up in the event of the termination of employees and it can also serve as a useful mechanism to attract good employees.
Non-competition clauses – Language should be clear and unambiguous
Employers should avoid using language that may introduce ambiguity and is broader than necessary to protect the employer’s legitimate interest. Courts will not fix a clause that they find to be ambiguous or overreaching
Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk
The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with the interpretation and enforceability of termination clauses, changes and improvements to services, benefits and credits for Canadians for the new tax filing season and improved ways for businesses to meet their reporting obligations.
Consideration: What’s good for the goose is good for the gander
The facts of this case are extremely unique. We more commonly see the courts using the doctrine of consideration to deny employers the ability to enforce restrictive termination clauses imposed after employees have already commenced working. However, the ruling gives employers hope that, if the circumstances were sufficiently extreme and an employee’s behavior egregious, the courts will apply the doctrine of consideration to an employer’s advantage.
Top five cases of importance to Ontario employment law – 2017 edition
2017 has been an incredibly busy year for Ontario employment law practitioners. In addition to the changes to the common law brought about by the decisions considered in this post, one would be foolish to omit any reference to the sweeping changes recently ushered in by the Wynne government as a result of the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, S.O. 2017 C.22 (“Bill 148”).
Top 5 mistakes employers make in their contracts
Employment contracts are a useful tool for employers. But often, employers make mistakes when creating their contracts. Here are five of the main mistakes to watch out for.
Online HR resources: Tips for more effective use
Why reinvent the wheel? Drafting employment contracts, policies, termination letters and releases based on a past precedent is often a good place to start. It is usually both time and cost efficient, and for someone unfamiliar with the document, it’s a great learning opportunity. When using a precedent or online resource, here are the top 3 tips to ensure the document is legally enforceable in your workplace.
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