Employment Law Show: Ontario – S10 E106

Episode Summary

Can your employer force you to sign a new contract? How long can you be on medical leave? Employment Lawyer Mackenzie Irwin, Associate at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP answers those questions and more on the Employment Law Show. 

LISTEN BELOW to Ontario’s premiere radio show about employment law and workplace rights featuring the province’s leading employment lawyers. You can catch the show on Saturdays and Sundays on 640 Toronto, Newstalk 580 CFRA in Ottawa, and 900 CHML in Hamilton as the hosts take calls from listeners and provide vital answers to employees and employers. 

Listen to the Episode

Show Notes

• Long-service employees needed to take time off due to accident: Employers are obligated to accommodate an employee’s medical condition and possible restrictions needed at the workplace. Employees cannot be penalized or terminated as a result of a medical condition. Employers who terminate or discipline employees based on an illness or injury could face legal consequences.
• Forced to sign severance package and threatening employee: Employers cannot force an employee to sign a severance offer immediately. Employees have the ability to take the time to consider a severance package and seek out legal advice from an employment lawyer. Deadlines and threats in order to sign a severance offer are considered pressure tactics.
• Permissible time for employee to take medical leave: There is no time limit for how long an employee can take off for medical leave. An employee must garner the support of their treating doctor that they are unable to work and are following the recommended treatment. Employers cannot penalize or terminate an employee as a result of taking medical leave and must offer employees their original position after returning from medical leave.
• Asked to sign a new employment contract after years of employment: Employers rarely offer employees a contract or a new employment agreement that does not seek to limit an employee’s entitlements and rights and protect their own. Employees do not have to sign an employment contract without first seeking legal advice. Employees that have not been offered something in exchange for signing a new agreement should remember that the contract will likely not be enforceable.

Need an employment lawyer?

• Pocket Employment Lawyer: Before you call a lawyer, use the Pocket Employment Lawyer to find out if you might have a case. 
• Severance Pay Calculator: Discover how much severance pay you should get when you lose your job, used successfully by nearly 2 million Canadians. 
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