Over the last several years employers in Ontario have witnessed the repeated striking down of termination provisions in employment agreements. It has been an uphill battle for employers to stay on top of continuously evolving case law and ensure that their employees have enforceable termination clauses in their employment agreements. However, there may now be...
In October 2024 the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) released a statement calling for the elimination of sick notes for short-term minor illnesses. In parallel, we have seen the various jurisdictions review, and at times update, their legislation around the collection of sick notes to substantiate short-term illness. The current legislative restrictions are as follows: Ontario: Employers...
In response to the economic uncertainty expected from the threat and/or introduction of tariffs by trading partners, the federal government introduced amendments to the employment insurance (“EI”) regulations, Pilot Project No. 24 (the “Project”). Here’s what employers need to know: When? Beginning on March 30, 2025, and ending on October 11, 2025 Who? The Project...
In working with your e2r® Advisors, you may have heard us refer to an employee’s duty to ‘mitigate’ their losses following the termination of their employment. The employee’s duty to mitigate means that they must proactively seek comparable replacement employment after their employment is terminated. Broadly speaking, when an employee finds comparable replacement employment, the...
On April 1, 2025, the Government of Ontario announced that the general minimum wage will increase from $17.20 per hour to $17.60 per hour effective October 1, 2025. This change applies to most employees but not all. Some exceptions include: Students under the age of 18 who work 28 hour or less per week while...
While we always hate to be the bearer of bad news – it seems the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has, once again, elected to make life more difficult for Ontario employers by confirming a previous Court’s approach to the enforceability of termination provisions. In the recent decision of Baker v. Van Dolder’s Home Team...
In an effort to assist employers navigate the current and possible future U.S. tariffs, the federal government announced on March 7, 2025 special measures to the Employment Insurance (EI) Work-Sharing Program. Special measures for the Work-Sharing Program are in effect from March 7, 2025 until March 6, 2026. As a reminder, the Work-Sharing Program may...
Further to our e-Learning yesterday, progressive discipline is an established system where the severity of the consequences increases with each infraction of workplace rules, policies, procedures or standards. Typical “progression” is as follows: Verbal warning Written warning Suspension (with or without pay) Termination Progressive discipline should be applied in response to all forms of employee...
In December, Ontario’s Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 (Bill 229) received Royal Assent and we’ve outlined below the key legislative changes of interest to Ontario employers: Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) The amendments introduce two new unpaid leaves under the ESA: 1. Long-Term Illness Leave – Effective June 19, 2025 An employee who has...
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called a snap election, tentatively scheduled to take place on February 27, 2025. What do employers need to know about the rights an employee has during an election in Ontario? The Election Act outlines the entitlements of employees during an election in Ontario. The most notable of these entitlements is...