Employment lawyer on Twitter ultimatum and employee rights

Interview Summary

Elon Musk has recently announced that Twitter employees will need to work “extremely hardcore” – either accept an increased workload and expectations or they will no longer have a job.

What rights do employees have to refuse these new requests? Will employees who refuse be owed severance?

An Ottawa employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke to Patricia Boal on Newstalk 580 CFRA to answer these questions and more.

Interview Notes

• An ultimatum was given to Twitter employees: Employment laws differ greatly in Canada and the United States. In Canada, employers can give employees the option of accepting different terms of employment. It is important to remember that employers need the consent of employees to implement changes to the terms of their job.
• Elements that determine severance pay: In most provinces across the country, severance is based on a number of factors including the age of an employee, the length of service and the position.
• Temporary change to the terms of employment: Employees are within their rights to accept a change to their job particularly if it is temporary or for a single instance. It is essential for employees to expressly state that the acceptance of the change is only temporary and will not be permanent.
• Options for employees if a change in management occurs: In the event that a work environment has become toxic and unhealthy due to harassment and bullying, as a result of management or co-workers, employees should first file an internal complaint with the appropriate department. Employers have an obligation to investigate all complaints within the workplace and resolve the situation. Employees who feel that their concerns have not been addressed can seek legal advice from an employment lawyer.