Ottawa employment lawyer on remote employee layoffs and compensation

Interview Summary

The Ontario government has announced a need for legislation to protect the rights of remote workers. Proposed laws would ensure that employees who work remotely would still receive severance pay if a part of a mass layoff.

Do current employment laws leave out remote workers? What other rights could legislation provide for employees who no longer work at the office?

An Ontario employment lawyer and Senior Associate at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke to Kristy Cameron on Newstalk 580 CFRA to answer these questions and more.

Interview Notes

• The effect of the new legislation: Practically speaking the new legislation will not change much for employees. In most cases, regardless of a mass layoff, employees are owed their full severance entitlements. Current employment laws have not kept pace with the shift to remote or hybrid work arrangements for many workplaces. The proposed legislation would be an improvement on current employment laws.
• Advice for employees in a mass layoff: Employees are still owed severance pay based on their age, years of service and position. While the statute outlines an employee’s minimum entitlements, in most cases they are owed quite a bit more severance pay. In the event of a termination or mass layoff, employees should speak to an employment lawyer to determine if their rights are being honoured.