Employment Law Show: Ontario – S10 E83

Episode Summary

What should you know about for-cause terminations? How long do you have to pursue severance? Employment Lawyer Jon Pinkus, a partner 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

• What to do if you are asked to sign a new employment contract: An employee with many years of service under their belt was asked by their employer to sign a new employment contract along with an incentive of a $1,000 signing bonus. After reviewing this contract, Jon found many areas that would limit the employees rights and entitlements. He stresses the importance of having an employment contract reviewed by a lawyer and not accepting the terms at face value.
• Termination for cause: A termination for cause is considered the capital punishment of employment law. It should be reserved for the worst aspects of workplace misconduct, such as dishonesty, insubordination, assault or theft. Many employers will try and tell their employees they are terminated for cause to get out of paying them severance, when in reality there are not legitimate grounds for cause. Always consult with a lawyer if you were terminated for cause to understand your true rights and entitlements.
• Discipline and warnings in the workplace: Jon discusses discipline and warnings in the workplace, and at what point they could lead to a termination for cause, and when employees are still owed severance even after multiple warnings.
• Severance package deadlines: Do not sign and accept a severance package before having it reviewed by a legal professional. Employers impose deadlines to try and pressure employees to sign, but once that happens you lose your chance of getting a lawyer involved to help you get a greater severance amount.

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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