Firm Blogs by Wray James LLP

Termination With Cause in Ontario: A 15 Year Old Contract

May 5, 2023 • Wray James LLP

When an employee remains in the same company for an extended period of time, it is common for their responsibilities to shift and increase in comparison to when they were…

Mass Layoffs: Know the Law, Know Your Rights

March 15, 2023 • Wray James LLP

As the economic situation continues to evolve, companies are making rapid changes to their workforce. Unfortunately, these changes can result in mass layoffs, which can be difficult for both employees…

Severance Pay in Ontario: What If I Am Fired For Cause?

March 8, 2023 • Wray James LLP

Ontario Severance Pay: What if I Am Fired for Cause? Render v. Thyssenkrupp Elevator (Canada) Limited, 2022 ONCA 310 confirmed that where an employee is terminated on a “for cause”…

Long Term Disability Benefits: Seek Medical Treatment

September 22, 2022 • Wray James LLP

There are various reasons for which insurance providers may deny long term disability (LTD) benefits to a policy holder even though he or she has become unable to work due…

For Employers – Take the Time To Conduct Thorough and Thoughtful Performance Reviews

July 22, 2022 • Wray James LLP

Does your company conduct pro forma performance reviews? Do your non-unionized employees sometimes receive group salary raises in the standard course when their individual performance does not merit a raise?…

Employment Law in Ontario: Constructive Dismissal in Covid

April 14, 2022 • Wray James LLP

Back to work for first time since covid, and my job has dramatically changed, what are my legal rights? Covid-19 has caused significant changes to the job market in Ontario…

Employment Termination in Ontario – Notice Periods in Covid?

November 10, 2021 • Wray James LLP

Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, given its severe negative effects on the job market, there has been an outstanding question of how courts in Ontario will resolve employment…

Employment Contracts With Non-Compete Under the ESA

October 27, 2021 • Wray James LLP

Employers in various industries often include non-competition agreements or clauses into their contracts with employees. This is common, for example, in professional services industries such as accounting, dentistry, legal, and…

Can Employees Be Terminated For Refusing To Get the Covid-19 Vaccine?

October 20, 2021 • Wray James LLP

We answer this employment law question in an article we wrote for mechanical business magazine. #mechbiz  “One of the most common questions in the minds of business owners across the…

Employment Law in Ontario: What Happens To My Stock Options If I Am Terminated?

October 13, 2021 • Wray James LLP

Over the past few decades the courts in Ontario have developed a significant amount of jurisprudence regarding an employee’s entitlements to various forms of compensation upon termination, including health benefits,…

Termination During Covid Can Result in Longer Notice Periods

October 8, 2021 • Wray James LLP

In the early days of the covid, it was suggested that, when evaluating wrongful and constructive dismissal claims in the context of the pandemic, the courts would take into account…

Big Win at the Ontario Civilian Police Commission

October 8, 2021 • Wray James LLP

Last year, our client brought an application under s. 116 of the Police Services Act to become a member of the Niagara Regional Police Senior Officers’ Association. The case was…

Ontario Severance Pay: What Are Contractors Entitled To?

October 4, 2021 • Wray James LLP

In Ontario, severance pay can be provided if the employee is terminated. However, this entitlement presupposes that one is an employee. Individuals who perform services may do so as independent…

Employment Termination & the Duty To Mitigate During the Covid Pandemic

June 5, 2021 • Wray James LLP

What is the duty to mitigate and am i obliged to mitigate during the covid-19 pandemic? In Ontario, entitlements upon termination arise from two sources: The Employment Standards Act (“ESA”),…

When Your Employer Sells the Business

May 15, 2021 • Wray James LLP

What happens to my job when the employer sells the business? When an employer decides to sell its business, the effect that this will have on the employees of that…

Covid Temporary Layoffs Not To End in Constructive Dismissal

May 8, 2021 • Wray James LLP

Ontario court rules temporary layoffs during Covid will not result in constructive dismissal As a response to the effects of the covid pandemic in workplaces, the government of Ontario enacted…

Punishing Success – Dismissals For Cause of High Performing Commissioned Sales People

April 17, 2021 • Wray James LLP

Imagine you are a successful commissioned salesperson, having diligently worked for 15 years at Company X. You sell widgets and are paid a commission based on a percentage of the…

Ontario Paid Sick Leave – the Laws Have Been Updated

April 8, 2021 • Wray James LLP

The Ontario government announced that it is introducing new legislation to assist workers who are affected by the covid pandemic, called the Covid-19 worker income protection benefit. The new law…

Ontario Judge Instructs Lawyers On the Proper Use of Caselines

February 19, 2021 • Wray James LLP

Spurred by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Ontario courts have rapidly introduced new technologies to enable court hearings to proceed virtually. One important development is the…

Laid Off During Covid: What Are My Rights?

February 8, 2021 • Wray James LLP

As the covid-19 pandemic continues to affect the job market, causing many to be laid off from their jobs or have their hours substantially reduced at work, many people are…