A recent Ontario Labour Relations Board decision offers a cautionary tale about what happens when emotions take over. A university instructor’s reprisal complaint was dismissed not on its merits, but because he failed to follow procedural directions. This post explores how even highly educated professionals can self-sabotage under stress, and why representation isn’t about intelligence. Instead, it’s about creating the distance between the opposing counsel and oneself.
ChatGPT can be a helpful starting point, but in workplace disputes, it’s no substitute for legal advice. Employees who rely on AI-generated content risk missing key deadlines, misinterpreting laws, or presenting information improperly. This post explores how overconfidence in free tools can backfire and why employment disputes require strategic, fact-specific guidance. When your job, reputation, or severance is on the line, it’s worth getting advice from someone who actually practices the law, not just the internet or AI.
If your manager is suddenly criticizing your work, excluding you from meetings, or demoting your title, you might be facing "constructive dismissal." In Ontario, fundamental changes to your employment terms can be treated as termination, even if you haven’t actually been fired. But here is the trap: if you resign in frustration without legal advice, you could walk away from thousands of dollars in severance. This guide explains exactly how to document a "poisoned" work environment, why you must not quit on the spot, and how to build a legal strategy to exit on your own terms while maximizing the compensation you deserve.
Many employers wrongly assume they are safe just by following the Employment Standards Act. In reality, the gap between ESA minimums and common law severance can cost your business tens of thousands of dollars per employee. This guide breaks down the absolute essentials for protecting your company: why you need enforceable written contracts before the first day of work, the specific dangers of using outdated termination clauses, and the critical importance of documenting performance issues. We explain how a proactive legal strategy prevents minor HR headaches from exploding into six-figure wrongful dismissal lawsuits. Prevention is always cheaper than a courtroom defence.
Suffering a nervous breakdown at work isn't just a health crisis; it is a serious employment risk. Many employees assume their mental health protects them from termination, but the reality is harsh: if your employer is unaware of your medical condition, they can legally fire you for "poor performance" or "bad behavior" stemming from your untreated anxiety. This guide explains why silence is your enemy. We outline the critical legal steps you must take to protect your job, how to properly trigger your rights to medical accommodation, and why transitioning to a protected medical leave is safer than trying to "push through" a crisis alone.