Viewing 21 posts 673 – 693 of 843
×
Legal AI
Assistant
💡In Ontario, you cannot legally force your employer to show you the daily accounting spreadsheets for the tip pool. However, under the Employment Standards Act (updated by Bill 149), employers…
💼In Ontario, the vast majority of statutory leaves under the Employment Standards Act (ESA), such as Sick Leave, Bereavement Leave, and Maternity Leave, are legally unpaid by the employer. However,…
💡In Ontario, commission-only employees are fully entitled to public holiday pay (stat pay). Under the Employment Standards Act (ESA), the calculation is simple: take all the gross commission you earned…
🕯Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA), eligible employees are guaranteed up to 2 days of unpaid bereavement leave per calendar year following the death of an immediate family member.…
💼In Ontario, unpaid “job shadowing” or mandatory trial shifts are almost always illegal. Under the Employment Standards Act, if a candidate is required to observe operations, learn company-specific software, or…
👥If your Ontario employer requires you to wait in line to use a biometric time clock, security checkpoint, or COVID-style screening desk before you can technically “clock in,” that waiting…
💡Under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA), your former employer must issue your final paycheque within 7 days of your employment ending, or on your next regular payday. If you moved…
💡In Ontario, if the power goes out or equipment fails and your employer requires you to remain at the workplace while waiting for it to be fixed, you must be…
⏱In Ontario, employers must pay you for every minute you work. Automatically rounding down your timesheet (for example, reducing 8 hours and 14 minutes to exactly 8 hours) is considered…
💡As of recent legislative changes in Ontario (including Bill 190), employers are generally prohibited from requiring a doctor’s note for a worker’s three statutory sick days under the Employment Standards…
💳Under the Ontario Consumer Reporting Act, an employer can legally run a credit check on a job applicant, but they must explicitly notify you in writing first. These checks are…
💡Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, an employer cannot generally force you to undergo an Independent Medical Examination (IME) by a doctor of their choosing. They can only request one…
🩷In Ontario, duly licensed medical practitioners such as dentists, optometrists, and chiropractors are completely exempt from the overtime rules of the Employment Standards Act (ESA). However, un-licensed clinic staff, such…
🏰In Ontario, duly registered embalmers and funeral directors are legally exempt from the standard hours of work and overtime provisions under the Employment Standards Act (ESA). Because the bereavement sector…
💡If you resign or are terminated in Ontario, your employer must pay out all of your unused, banked overtime (lieu time) on your final pay cheque. Because banked overtime is…
💸In Ontario, an employer cannot legally deduct money from your final pay cheque for broken equipment, cash shortages, or unreturned uniforms unless you have provided specific, written consent. Withholding your…
🔒In Ontario, it is generally considered a severe privacy violation for an employer to demand the passwords to your personal social media accounts. While there is no single “password protection…
💡In Ontario, an employer cannot legally force you to accept “time off in lieu” (banked hours) instead of paying you for your overtime. Banking overtime is only allowed if you…
💳Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA), your employer is strictly liable to pay your wages on the established, regular pay day. If a third-party payroll software (like ADP or…
🧹In Ontario, “Domestic Workers” (housekeepers hired directly by a homeowner) are legally entitled to time-and-a-half overtime after 44 hours. However, “Homemakers” (caregivers employed by an agency to care for children,…
💡Under the Canadian Criminal Code, it is entirely legal to secretly record a conversation in the workplace as long as you are actively participating in it (One-Party Consent). However, doing…
🎯 Specialization: Civil Litigation, Wrongful Dismissal, Commercial Disputes, Real Estate Litigation
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 57 Mill St N, Brampton, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Employment Contracts, Human Rights Litigation, Constructive Dismissal, Severance Packages
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 380 Pelissier St Suite 209, Windsor, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Severance Packages, Workplace Harassment, Employment Contracts
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 119 King St W, Kitchener, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1992
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Severance Packages, Workplace Harassment
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 1116 Wellington Street West, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2006
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Human Rights Litigation, Employment Contracts, Labour Board Proceedings
🗣️ Languages: English, French
📍 Address: 93 Queen St S, Mississauga, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2002
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Severance Packages, Workplace Human Rights
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 207 Woolwich St, Guelph, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1997
🎯 Specialization: Workplace Investigations, Executive Compensation, Wrongful Dismissal, Human Rights Defence, Constructive Dismissal
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 200 Adelaide St W Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2011
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Long-term Disability Denials, Class Actions, Executive Compensation, Constructive Dismissal
🗣️ Languages: English, Korean
📍 Address: 220 Bay St., Toronto, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2013
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Severance Package Review, Constructive Dismissal
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 45 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Labour Relations, Employment Law for Employers, Human Rights Defence, Pension and Benefits
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 150 Caroline St S, Waterloo, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1972
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Reference Desk, Legal Research Services, Document Retrieval
📍 505 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Security Guard Licence, Private Investigator Licence, Agency Licence
📍 25 Grosvenor St, Toronto, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Commissioner of Oaths, Congratulatory Certificates, Provincial Petitions
📍 10 Gillingham Dr, Brampton, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Income Tax Returns, Notice of Assessment
📍 1050 Notre Dame Ave, Greater Sudbury, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Food Handler Certification, Septic System Permits
📍 355 Wellington St, London, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Food Handler Certificate, Immunization Record
📍 50 High Tech Rd, Richmond Hill, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Mediation Services, Adjudication, Case Management
📍 15 Grosvenor St, Toronto, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Health Protection, Immunization Services, Chronic Disease Prevention, Family Health, Communicable Diseases
📍 7120 Hurontario St, Mississauga, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Tribunal Orders, Case Filings
📍 90 Sparks St., Ottawa, Ontario
Welcome to the Ontario Work & Employment Rights guide centre. Here you will find comprehensive resources covering everything from navigating wrongful dismissal claims to understanding workplace safety, based on current provincial regulations.
Employment relationships in Ontario are primarily governed by the Employment Standards Act (ESA), which sets out the minimum rights for most workers in the province. Whether you are dealing with unpaid wages, sudden termination, or workplace harassment, understanding these baseline protections is critical for protecting your livelihood. The law balances the power between employers and employees to ensure fair treatment, safe conditions, and proper compensation for your labour.
Not all workers are covered by the exact same rules, as federally regulated industries and unionized workplaces follow different legislative frameworks. For the majority of provincially regulated employees, Ontario law dictates strict rules regarding severance pay, hours of work, and mandatory leaves of absence. Recognizing when your employer has crossed the line from poor management into illegal behaviour is the first step in asserting your rights.
Our resources explore the most frequent workplace disputes and legal challenges faced by employees across Ontario:
Employment disputes in the province are handled through a variety of local avenues depending on the nature of the claim. Many standard wage and hour complaints are investigated directly by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. For cases involving discrimination based on race, gender, or disability, employees may file applications with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO).
When a dispute involves complex wrongful dismissal claims or significant severance pay negotiations, the matter is typically litigated in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. In unionized environments, grievances must go through specialized labour arbitration boards rather than civil courts. Knowing which provincial body has the correct jurisdiction over your specific workplace issue is essential for achieving a successful outcome.
Challenging an employer can be an incredibly intimidating process, especially when facing corporate legal teams and complex employment contracts. We strongly caution against signing any termination packages or attempting to negotiate complex severance terms without professional representation. Signing away your rights prematurely can cost you thousands of dollars in legally owed compensation.
We always recommend consulting with a qualified employment lawyer to evaluate your situation and protect your financial future. You can find a list of relevant local lawyers and government agencies at the top of this page. Relying on an experienced professional ensures that your case is handled objectively and that you receive every benefit you are entitled to under Ontario labour laws.
Wrongful dismissal occurs when an employer terminates you without providing adequate notice or severance pay. Constructive dismissal happens when an employer unilaterally makes a significant, negative change to your job (like cutting your pay) that forces you to resign.
The Employment Standards Act mandates specific minimums based on your years of service. However, under common law, you may be entitled to significantly more—often several months’ pay—depending on your age, position, and the current job market.
Yes. In Ontario, employers can generally terminate an employee without cause, provided they give proper working notice or pay in lieu of notice (severance). However, they cannot fire you for discriminatory reasons protected by the Human Rights Code.
In late 2021, Ontario passed legislation effectively banning non-compete agreements for most employees, with strict exceptions only for executive-level positions or in the context of selling a business.
Generally, under the Ontario Limitations Act, you have exactly two years from the date of your termination to officially file a civil lawsuit for wrongful dismissal in the Superior Court of Justice.
You should first report the behaviour to management or human resources in accordance with your company’s workplace harassment policy. If the employer fails to investigate or address the issue, you may have grounds to file a claim with the Ministry of Labour or the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
No. Employers often impose arbitrary deadlines on severance offers, but you legally have the right to take the package home and have it reviewed by an employment lawyer before signing anything.