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💡In Ontario, students actively training to become public accountants (such as CPA candidates) are legally exempt from the overtime pay rules under the Employment Standards Act. Even if you work…
📐Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA), fully licensed land surveyors and registered articling students are legally exempt from mandatory overtime pay and standard minimum wage rules. However, unlicensed survey…
💰In Ontario, if you are summoned for jury duty, your employer is legally required to give you unpaid, job-protected leave for the entire duration of the trial. While they must…
💡If an Ontario employer cancels your shift before you arrive due to a snowstorm, they generally do not owe you pay. However, if you arrive at work and the boss…
💰Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA), banked lieu time does not generally increase in monetary value if you get a raise. If your employment ends or you choose to…
💵Yes, it is entirely legal for an Ontario employer to pay your wages in physical cash. However, they are strictly required by the Employment Standards Act (ESA) to provide a…
💡In Ontario, if your employer requires you to arrive 15 minutes early or stay late to complete a “shift handover,” patient report, or safety briefing, that time is legally considered…
💼Generally, Ontario employers cannot legally ban you from having a second job or a side hustle outside of your regular working hours. However, you can be legally terminated “with cause”…
👪Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA), eligible employees can take up to 28 weeks of unpaid, job-protected Family Medical Leave within a 52-week period to provide care for a…
👷In Ontario, any workplace with 20 or more regular employees is legally required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to establish a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC).…
💡In Ontario, employers cannot legally force you to take a drug or alcohol test simply because an accident happened. Post-incident testing is generally only permitted if you work in a…
⚠️Under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), you have the legal right to refuse unsafe work if you believe it is likely to endanger you or your colleagues.…
💡Under Ontario Regulation 213/91 for Construction Projects, employers must provide workers with clean, illuminated, and heated washrooms, as well as safe, potable drinking water from the very first day of…
💡In Ontario, general workplace bullying is covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), which legally requires your employer to conduct an investigation. However, if the bullying is based…
💡Under Ontario’s Electronic Monitoring Policy legislation (Bill 88), employers with 25 or more employees must explicitly disclose in writing if they track company vehicles via GPS. While an employer can…
👶In Ontario, Critical Illness Leave provides up to 37 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for a critically ill minor child (under 18), and up to 17 weeks to…
💡In Ontario, parents are legally entitled to up to 104 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave if their child dies or disappears as a probable result of a crime. Your employer…
💡Under WSIB Regulation 1101, all Ontario employers must provide fully stocked first aid kits and ensure that at least one certified first aid attendant is present on every shift. Failing…
💡In Ontario, you are entitled to up to 13 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to undergo surgery to donate an organ to another person. If your recovery takes longer than…
💡In Ontario, employees serving in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves have the right to take unpaid, job-protected “Reservist Leave” for deployments, domestic emergencies, and mandatory military training. Your employer cannot…
🚫In Ontario, random drug and alcohol testing without cause is generally illegal under the Human Rights Code. It is considered discriminatory because it treats employees as if they have an…
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Human Rights, Employment Contracts, Mediation
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 100 King St W, Toronto, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2018
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Estate Litigation, Severance Packages, Civil Disputes
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 1101 Prince of Wales Dr, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1993
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Commercial Litigation, Contract Disputes, Shareholder Disputes
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 545 King St W, Toronto, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2019
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Long-Term Disability Claims, Wrongful Dismissal, Severance Package Reviews, Chronic Pain Cases
🗣️ Languages: English, Vietnamese
📍 Address: 1715 Lakeshore Rd W, Mississauga, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2002
🎯 Specialization: Executive Compensation, Workplace Investigations, Labour Arbitration, Wrongful Dismissal
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 401 Bay St. Suite 1600, Toronto, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2014
🎯 Specialization: Employment Contracts, Wrongful Dismissal, Human Rights, Workplace Harassment, Small Business HR
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 2 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1989
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Human Rights Litigation, Employment Contracts, Workplace Harassment
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 92 Caplan Ave, Barrie, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1989
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Workplace Discrimination, Severance Package Review, Human Rights Claims
🗣️ Languages: English, Russian
📍 Address: 650 E Hope Cir, Newmarket, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Wrongful Dismissal, Severance Package Review, Workplace Human Rights, Employment Contracts
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 5063 N Service Rd Suite 200, Burlington, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2008
🎯 Specialization: Management Labour Relations, Employment Litigation, Pension and Benefits, Human Rights Defence
🗣️ Languages: English, French
📍 Address: 150 Metcalfe St, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1972
⚙️ Services: Dispute Resolution, Customer Service, Mediation
📍 119 King St W 6th Floor, Hamilton, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Food Handler Certificate, Immunization Record
📍 50 High Tech Rd, Richmond Hill, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Tribunal Decisions
📍 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Record Suspensions, Pardons, Expungement Orders
📍 410 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Victim Services, Restorative Justice, Offender Management, Policy and Research
📍 340 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Intake Services, Investigations Unit, Case Management, Systemic Review
📍 655 Bay St, Toronto, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Refugee Protection Division, Immigration Division, Immigration Appeal Division, Refugee Appeal Division, Registry…
📍 25 St Clair Ave E, Toronto, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Commissioner of Oaths, Congratulatory Certificates, Provincial Petitions
📍 10 Gillingham Dr, Brampton, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Immunization Records, Food Handler Certification
📍 50 High Tech Rd, Richmond Hill, 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.