Labour and Employment Law – For Employees

If your rights in the workplace are being threatened or compromised, we offer advice and legal representation for employees.

Employment Contract Review: Your employment contract is not just a formality. It is a vital document that defines your relationship with your employer and outlines all of the rights and protections you are entitled to under the law. Our lawyers have negotiated, drafted, and litigated hundreds of employment contracts. Before you sign your next contract, let us look it over for you to make sure that you are completely familiar with all of your rights. Review of Termination Packages:  You might be surprised to learn how often terminated employees do not receive the termination packages that they are entitled to. If you have been terminated, call us before you accept any separation package. We will review your employment contract and all of the circumstances surrounding your termination of employment, determine what you are entitled to under the law and/or your employment contract, and work with you to ensure that you receive all of it. Wrongful Dismissal: If you have been terminated from your employment, you may be entitled to additional compensation from your employer. We will review all of the circumstances that have led to your termination from employment and ensure that you receive compensation that is consistent with your legal entitlements. Constructive Dismissal: Have you been demoted? Have you been forced to take a pay reduction? Are you under pressure to accept a transfer that you did not ask for? Are you being harassed or set up for failure? You do not have to be fired before you can commence legal proceedings against your employer for Constructive Dismissal. In some cases, when a fundamental condition of your employment changes without your agreement, you may have the right to claim damages as if you had been fired. If you suspect that you have been constructively dismissed, call us before you agree to any changes. We will review the situation and advise you on the best course of action to make sure your rights are fully protected. Benefits: If you are having issues obtaining Short Term Disability Benefits or Long Term Disability Benefits from your disability provider, we can help. We will communicate with your disability provider and ensure you receive all benefits you are entitled to so that you can focus on getting better. Harassment and Bullying: You have the right to work in an environment where you feel 100 percent safe. The law protects you from any kind of harassment, bullying, threats or misconduct, including physical, verbal, cyber and sexual. You also have the right to legal protection if you are the subject of a harassment or bullying investigation. Human Rights and Discrimination: The Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act protect all Ontarians from discrimination and harassment based on age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, citizenship or place of origin. If you believe that you are facing discrimination at work because of one of these protected grounds, or if you are an employer dealing with a potential human rights issue in the workplace, we have an experienced legal team that can ensure your rights are protected. This includes representing your interests in proceedings before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal or the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Employment Insurance/Canada Pension Appeals: Merely being eligible for Employment Insurance or Canada Pension benefits does not guarantee that you will receive them. There are many reasons why you may not be receiving the benefits that you are entitled to. We can review your situation and make the necessary representations to ensure that you receive what you are legally entitled to. WSIB Claims: If you suffer an injury on the job or develop a medical condition from your work, we can help you secure the compensation you are entitled to under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. Privacy and Access to Information:  Sometimes it seems as if there is no such thing as privacy these days. With so much information freely available on the internet, you would think an employee has no right to privacy. That is not accurate. You have the right to make sure certain information about yourself is kept private. You also have the right to access certain information about yourself. If those rights are being violated, we can help. Duty of Fair Representation Complaint: If you have a grievance against your union or are looking for advice on union related matters, we can provide you with legal representation and legal advice related to the duty of fair representation. Labour Law: Unions were invented for your protection. Without unions, we would not have some of the things we take for granted today, like lunch breaks or weekends. Today, it is easy to see why some might feel that unions have lost touch with their roots. If you have a grievance against your union or are looking for advice on union related matters, we can help. Our Team