Receiving a layoff notice is stressful and confusing. For many employees in Ontario, it raises more questions than answers: Is this temporary? Will my employer recall me? Am I entitled to severance?
While some layoffs are entirely legal and based on business realities, others are “sham layoffs”, a tactic some employers use to cut ties…
The recent Newsweek article, White-Collar Jobs Are Disappearing, outlines a disturbing trend in the United States: the disappearance of well-paying, white-collar jobs once considered stable. Driven by automation, artificial intelligence, and cost-cutting measures, many U.S. employees are finding themselves abruptly terminated with little recourse. This shift underscores an important contrast between the American and…
Ever walked out of work feeling like your boss is secretly plotting your exit? You might be right.
Not all firings come with a dramatic “you’re fired” moment. Sometimes, employers take a more underhanded approach: making your work life so unbearable that you quit voluntarily. This workplace manipulation tactic is called constructive dismissal.
In Ontario,…
Temporary vs. permanent layoffs are back in the spotlight across Ontario, as workers navigate job insecurity in an uncertain economy. According to a recent survey by the Toronto Region Board of Trade, nearly 40% of Toronto-area workers fear losing their jobs in the next 12 months. For younger workers under 35, that number climbs to…
When illness or injury prevents you from working, knowing how to access your employer-provided disability benefits can make all the difference. Whether you’re dealing with a physical condition, chronic illness, or mental health challenges, short-term and long-term disability benefits exist to help you recover without financial hardship. Here’s what every employee in Ontario should know…
When a new baby arrives, by birth or adoption, both parents are entitled to time off work to bond with their child and adjust to new family responsibilities. While maternity leave often takes the spotlight, it’s just as important to understand paternity leave in Ontario and what benefits are available for fathers.
In Ontario, parental…
When several downtown Toronto Sushi Shop locations suddenly shut down in March, without any warning to staff or franchisees, employees were left in the dark, wondering about their employment rights. At Union Station, workers arrived to find the doors locked and their jobs gone. Within days, the store reopened under new management, reportedly with a…
Balancing work and personal life isn’t always about booking a vacation or taking a long weekend. Sometimes, it means stepping away from your job to care for your mental health, taking a loved one to a doctor’s appointment, or being there in a crisis. That’s where Ontario’s employment laws come in. The Employment Standards Act,…
In April 2025, Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) announced a major restructuring that resulted in approximately 200 layoffs from its Toronto corporate office. The Hudson’s Bay layoffs come as the retailer plans to shutter most of its stores across Canada, including many in Ontario. While the headlines focused on the retailer’s financial troubles, what matters most…
Termination for cause is one of the most severe actions an employer can take against an employee. Often referred to as “the capital punishment of employment law,” it strips an employee of severance and other important rights. This is in contrast to a termination without cause, which typically entitles an employee to termination pay or…
