- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act: How to Comply with the Customer Services Standard by Lia Preyde, Harmonie Group, March 01, 2012
EMPLOYMENT LAW
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Our experienced team of employment law lawyers acts for both employers and employees on a wide range of legal issues.
Our lawyers provide full employment law services, including advice on employment contracts, workplace communications and bulletins, workplace health and safety management, legal issues, and strategies. We also represent our clients in legal proceedings, negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and other forms of dispute resolution
Our lawyers routinely appear for employees and employers at:
- the Ontario Human Rights Commission;
- Employment Standards Hearings at the Ministry of Labour
- the Ontario Superior Court of Justice; and
- the Ontario Court of Appeal;
- Ministry of Labour Provincial Claims;
- Ministry of Labour Occupation Health and Safety Claims;
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board; and
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.
Members of the Employment Law Group work with our clients from the inception of employment, during the course of the employment relationship, and upon termination of employment, on various issues that include:
- hiring practices and procedures;
- drafting and assessment of employment contracts;
- advising on practical solutions on rights and obligations on employee's rights and employer's obligations under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, and at common law;
- advising on issues of sexual and verbal harassment during the course of employment;
- drafting severance or compensation packages for employers;
- consulting on the appropriateness of severance packages for employees;
- assisting employers with compliance with labour legislation with respect to mass termination of employees;
- providing guidance for human resources managers and executives to properly conduct termination meetings to ensure proper procedures are followed to minimize litigation risk;
- assisting in locating skills assessment offices, retraining programs, and placement consultants for out-placement counseling for departing employees;
- negotiating resolutions of disputes with respect to severance or compensation packages for both employer and employees;
- advancing or defending complaints filed with the Ministry of Labour;
- advancing or defending constructive and wrongful dismissal actions at all levels of court; and
- providing assistance with workplace health and safety matters including effective management of WSIB matters that reduce direct costs for employers resulting in fewer lost days due to work injury. Through proactive involvement and management of WSIB claims, audits and classification reviews, employer premiums can be greatly reduced. Also, our practice group provides assistance in compliance with the Workplace Safety Insurance Act; and
- advancing or defending human rights code complaints brought within civil actions or at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, in accordance with the recently amended Ontario Human Rights Code.
In addition, the Employment Law Group assists employer and employees with issues surrounding the following:
- alcohol and drug testing, diversity and harassment policies;
- enforcement of non-solicitation and non-competition agreements; and defamation issues in relation to the employment relationship.