Employment Law Show: Ontario – S10 E70

Episode Summary

Can your hours be reduced by your employer? Should you complain to the Ministry of Labour? An employment lawyer 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 hear the show live, Mondays to Thursdays, on 640 Toronto and 980 CFPL in London at 6:30 p.m. ET, as the hosts take calls from listeners and provide vital answers to employees and employers.

Listen to the Episode

Show Notes

• Mass layoffs in the tech sector: The tech industry is growing but currently seems to be dealing with ongoing financial difficulties. For those that work in a tech company, it is important to remember that the difficulties an employer is facing do not negate their rights to severance pay. Employees let go as part of a mass layoff, like those employed at Wealthsimple, should not forgo their rights and contact a legal expert before accepting a severance package.
• Rights of older employees and an aging workforce: Older workers that work at a company that has introduced new technology must be trained or offered aid in learning how to function in their position with new software.
• Letting an employee go due to age: Employees cannot be let go due to their age as it is a protected ground under human rights legislation. Employees who have been let go due to their age are within their rights to pursue a human rights violation. There is also no age at which an employee must retire and cannot be forced to do so.
• Hours of work reduced dramatically: Employers do not have the ability to dramatically reduce an employee’s hours of work or compensation without their consent. Doing so can lead to constructive dismissal.
• Ministry of labour minimum entitlements: It is important for employees to understand that the Ministry of Labour is only able to advise individuals on their minimum severance entitlements and not their full common law entitlements. After filing with the Ministry of Labour, it is not possible to seek additional legal advice.

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. 
• Watch our TV Shows: Get further clarity on your rights by watching episodes of our popular TV show.