Blackhawk’s Corey Perry’s contract termination: Employment Lawyer on Newstalk1010

Interview Summary

News of the Chicago Blackhawk’s Corey Perry’s contract termination was recently announced. Some have speculated that the contract was terminated due to a salacious rumour. How are contract terminations negotiated in other workplaces? Are employees obligated to disclose certain information to prospective employers?

SEE ALSO
• Firing employees without cause in Ontario

Teilen Celentano, an Ontario employment lawyer and Associate at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP joined Jim Richards on Newstalk1010 to answer these questions and more on employee rights.

Interview Notes

• Disclosing reason for the end of the contract: As Perry is a unionized NHL player, if a new team wishes to sign Perry to a new contract, there could be regulations surrounding disclosure that the general public is not aware of. For most non-unionized employees, they are not required to disclose the reason for the end of their previous employment. Employees must be honest during the hiring process, however, and should not lie to prospective employers.
• Possible damages to an employer’s reputation: An employer can determine whether or not an employee’s actions could reflect negatively on their reputation or brand. Alternatively, employees are not responsible for how peers react to news.
• Information leaked through a potential lawsuit despite an NDA: As the NHL players are unionized, they must pursue legal action and complaints through the grievance process. This process is believed to be private and confidential information should remain so throughout.