In a recent 2019 decision, Bassanese v. German Canadian News Company Limited et al., the Court has concluded that an employer can be held vicariously liable where one employee assaults another employee. This case involved two employees who did not like each other. Dhanani was employed as an accounts receivable clerk. Bassanese worked in an […]
The Court of Appeal of Ontario has recently affirmed the Colistro v. Tbaytel decision from the Superior Court. This case involved allegations by an employee who commenced an action for constructive dismissal, intentional infliction of mental suffering, and wrongful dismissal. Colistro worked for Tbaytel, and its predecessor, the City of Thunder Bay, for nearly 20 […]
The Ontario Court of Appeal has concluded that there is no the tort of harassment in Ontario. By way of background, the employee was a junior RCMP constable when he began and had been promoted to sergeant. The relationship between management and the employee became tense when the employee ran for a nomination for a […]
On January 10, 2019, Arbitrator Larry Steinberg released a decision reinstating a nurse who had violated numerous workplace policies, committed theft and falsified medical records. The grievor worked on a full-time basis as a Registered Professional Nurse at a long-term care facility. She had been employed with the employer for approximately 14 years. The grievor […]
Under section 64 of the Employment Standards Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 41 (“ESA”), employees who are terminated without cause are entitled severance pay. Under the ESA, an employer who has a payroll in excess of 2.5 million must pay additional severance pay to employees with more than five (5) years of service upon termination […]
A recent arbitration decision concerning an employer’s duty to accommodate a medical cannabis user rendered in Newfoundland has recently been judicially reviewed and upheld. The arbitration decision, Lower Churchill Transmission Construction Employers’ Assn. Inc. and Valard Construction LP v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1620 (Tizzard), 2018 CarswellNfld 198, 136 C.L.A.S. 26, dealt with […]
In the recent decision, Heller v. Uber Technologies Inc., [2019] O.J. No. 1, the Court of Appeal decided on whether an arbitration clause in the services agreement provided to Uber drivers is enforceable under Ontario law. The claim in Heller is a proposed class action against Uber alleging that Uber drivers should be categorized as […]
In English v. Manulife Financial Corporation, the Ontario Court of Appeal considered whether an employee who has resigned from her employment by written notice was entitled to rescind the notice of resignation after it had been accepted by the employer. The employee worked for Manulife (previously Standard Life) for 10 years. She was a Senior […]
In Dussault v. Imperial Oil Ltd., the Ontario Superior Court of Justice held that two employees who had worked for Imperial for more than 39 years and 36 years respectively were entitled to 26 months’ notice of termination. Both employees participated in a defined benefit pension plan. The employees, who both worked in Imperial’s retail […]
As of January 1, 2018, important policy changes were implemented to workers’ compensation in Ontario which provided for entitlements relating to claims for workplace harassment, including sexual harassment. As a result, employees with workers’ compensation coverage can pursue benefits arising from mental stress that is caused by workplace harassment. At the same time, employees who […]