Blog - Human Rights and Discrimination
Looking to stay up to date on the latest news and information regarding employment law and how it impacts your workplace situation. Use our information centre to find informative blogs, media commentary, Globe and Mail articles and other helpful resources to ensure you understand your workplace rights.
Human Rights laws don’t guarantee equal treatment in the general sense. In Ontario, and throughout Canada, your workplace must be free of workplace discrimination, harassment, and reprisal or differential treatment due to certain protected characteristics. It may be discrimination if you are treated differently because of your age, race, ethnicity, place of origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, colour, sex/gender/sexual orientation, gender expression, marital/family status, or disability.
Why you should keep your opinions in check at work and online
Special to The Globe and Mail In this heated era of divisive politics and social media, people like to express their…
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Does My Employer Have to Give Me Time Off to Vote?
With the federal election upcoming on April 28, 2025, employees should be aware of their rights under the Canada Elections Act, SC…
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Pronouns in Email Signatures: Choice or Corporate Control?
Can my employer ask me to remove my gender pronoun from my signature? Recently, the debate surrounding the use of…
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Can an Employer Be Responsible for an Employee’s Discriminatory Behaviour?
Can Employers Be Held Responsible for Employee Misconduct? In numerous circumstances employers need to be cautious regarding the actions of…
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Transgender Rights in the Workplace
Why Are Transgender Rights in the Workplace a Growing Concern? In recent discussions on workplace rights, the treatment of transgender…
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Workplace Dress Codes: Style or Stereotype?
When Do Workplace Dress Codes Cross the Line into Discrimination? “[I]nappropriate or unprofessional appearance” has come out as the top…
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How Far Must Employers Go to Accommodate Disabilities?
What Counts as a Disability Under the Human Rights Code? The Ontario Human Rights Code protects employees from discrimination in…
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Can my Employer Look at my Social Media?
Background checks have become an increasingly common tool for employers in the course of hiring new employees, with as much…
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Secretly recording others in the workplace, while not inherently illegal, can still get you fired
Special to The Globe and Mail Do you have the right to secretly record your coworkers or boss? Does it…
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What Does Racial Discrimination Look Like at Work?
Today marks the 60th annual International Day for Elimination of All Racial Discrimination, an annual day recognized by the United…
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Is Racial Discrimination Still a Problem in Canadian Workplaces?
Today marks the 60th annual International Day for Elimination of All Racial Discrimination, an annual day recognized by the United…
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Should Ontario Follow Belgium’s Lead in Codifying Workplace Investigation Laws?
Belgium has taken a significant step in regulating workplace investigations with the introduction of the Private Investigation Regulation Act, enacted…
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International Women’s Day 2025: Breaking Barriers
What Is International Women’s Day and Why Is It Important? March 8, 2025 is International Women’s Day – a day…
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Family status protection in Ontario
Family Day is a time to acknowledged and celebrate the value of families across Ontario. As a result of acknowledging…
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Worker Exploitation at Canadian Tire: Temporary Foreign Worker Program
A Canadian Tire store is under investigation following allegations of mistreatment and financial exploitation of employees hired under Ottawa’s Temporary…
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What are the consequences of AI in the workplace?
What is generative AI and how does it work? Ever since ChatGPT became a social meme, industries the world over…
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Statutory Holidays in Canada
What are statutory holidays in Canada? Employees in Canada are entitled to specific statutory holidays, which can vary by both…
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Is AI Discriminating in Hiring?
What is AI Discriminating in Hiring? All employees in Canada are protected from discrimination in the workplace under the Canadian…
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Is Bullying a Violation of Human Rights?
According to Statistics Canada’s Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics, in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Justice and…
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How Does Mental Health Accommodation Work in Ontario?
As the stigma of mental health issues continues to diminish, workplaces are prioritizing mental health accommodations. The Ontario Human Rights…
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Is Menopause a Disability that Requires Accommodation?
The Menopause Foundation of Canada recently released a reported, entitled Menopause and Work in Canada, which estimates that the economic…
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What are Some Examples of Human Rights Violations in the Workplace?
Human rights violations. What comes to mind for you? For many, it’s easy to picture dramatic events from the headlines—stories…
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I’m Sick, Do I Need A Doctor’s Note?
We all know we need to prepare for cold and flu season as temperatures start to drop. However, Ontario employees…
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Human Rights Day: Upholding Equality in the Workplace
How does the UDHR influence Ontario and Canadian human rights laws? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“UDHR”) was adopted…
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Is Dress Code a Human Rights Issue?
What kind of dress code accommodations are required under the Ontario Human Rights Act? A recent case from the Ontario…
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Attending a Holiday Work Party
Holiday parties are just around the corner and can be great ways to show appreciation for employees, as well as…
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Hosting a Holiday Work Party!
The holiday season is fast approaching, which means it’s a time for gathering, laughter, and cheer. However, for employers it’s…
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What is the Duty to Accommodate Disability in Ontario?
What does the Ontario Human Rights Code say about substance abuse as a disability? The Ontario Human Rights Code protects…
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What is Considered a Human Rights Violation in the Workplace?
A report said that the two workers were told to use paid personal days to avoid working when the flyers…
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How Can We Stop Human Rights Violations in the Workplace?
Human rights violations are more common in the workplace than many people realize. They may be buried under discriminatory policies,…
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Can You Be Forced To Retire?
What is the mandatory retirement age in Canada? The answer is that there is none, and furthermore that employers are…
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Swiss Court Ruling: Clocking Out for Bathroom Breaks Raises Workplace Concerns
In Switzerland, renowned for its precision and efficiency in the watchmaking industry, time is indeed money. But just how much…
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Can Recording Your Coworkers Get You Fired?
Harassment at work can lead to a toxic work environment. It can be especially frustrating if it occurs “off the…
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Can You Be Fired for Mental Health Issues in Ontario?
What Is World Mental Health Day? October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, a day where we can come together…
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Can an Employer Layoff a Pregnant Employee?
Ontario Human Rights Code Employers in Ontario are protected from discriminating against employees in the workplace under the Ontario Human…
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Equal Pay Day: Unpacking Canada’s Legal Fight for Pay Equity
September 18 is International Equal Pay Day. Despite social and legislative efforts aimed at increasing fairness and equality, pay inequity…
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Can You Sue for Emotional Injury due to Workplace Violence?
If the conduct suffered is serious enough, it could indeed be compensable through general damages in court. It is important…
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Canadian Human Rights Chief Resigns
Why did Canadian Human Rights Chief Resign? Birju Dattani, the newly appointed chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission,…
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Microsoft’s $14.4 Million Settlement: Case of Leave Discrimination!
Microsoft Corp. has agreed to a $14.4 million settlement following allegations that it discriminated against employees who took protected leave,…
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Ontario’s Legal Standpoint on Airline Discrimination
Overview of recent airline discrimination Recent events involving the discriminatory treatment of black passengers on an American Airlines flight have…
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The Hidden Bias in Performance Reviews
What are performance reviews? Performance reviews are formal assessments conducted by employers to evaluate an employee’s job performance in the…
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Facing Alcoholism in the Workplace
Alcohol has long been a staple of workplace culture. From holiday parties to team-building events and business lunches, drinking is…
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Parental Rights: Workplace Protections and Challenges
As we commemorate Parents Day on June 1st, a day dedicated to honoring the role of parents in nurturing and…
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Workplace Mental Health: Strategies for Employers
What Does the Latest TELUS Mental Health Index Reveal About Workers’ Mental Health? Workers’ mental health has sunk to levels…
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Age Discrimination in the Modern Workplace
How Can Employers Avoid Age Discrimination in the Workplace? As people live longer and retire later in their lives, age-related…
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Employer Obligations in the Age of Flexible Retirement
Retirement isn’t always a one-way street anymore. Given the increased costs of living, more and more employees are deciding to…
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Can Your Employer Fire You for Using Medical Marijuana?
What were employers concerned about before the legalization of medical marijuana? Before the legalization of medical marijuana, and then again…
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Strategies to Address Mental Health in the Workplace
Employers in Ontario must be aware of the importance of creating strategies and policies to address mental health in the…
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Workplace Privacy in the Age of AI: Legal Insights
How does AI impact employees’ workplace privacy? Artificial intelligence (AI) has been all over the news recently. It promises to…
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Gender Discrimination: A Call for Workplace Equality
Gender Discrimination in Managerial Positions: What do recent statistics reveal? A recent report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business…
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Gender Discrimination Can Cost Employers Big Money
What allegations of gender discrimination have been made against Activision Blizzard? Activision Blizzard, a large US video game maker, is…
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Off-Duty Conduct: Responsibilities in the Workplace
Can an Employee Be Disciplined for Off-Duty Conduct? There has always been an issue as to whether a person can…
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Duty to Inquire in Ontario: What Should Employers Do?
What is the Duty to Inquire and Why is it Important for Ontario Employers? Employers in Ontario must be aware…
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Balancing Act: Caregiver Support in the Workplace
Caregiver support becoming increasingly important in the workplace? In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance…
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Maternity Leave Rights: What You Need to Know
Maternity leave and parental leave are pivotal aspects of employment in Canada, providing new parents with essential time to care…
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Sexual Harassment: Employer Challenges Claim of Worker
Is Just Cause the “Capital Punishment” of Employment Law? Just cause is widely known as the “capital punishment” of employment…
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Gender Discrimination Breaking the Bank for Employers?
What Led to Activision Blizzard’s $50 Million Settlement? Activision Blizzard, a large US video game maker, is paying big money…
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Mental Health Rights in the Ontario Workplace
In recent years, the legal landscape around mental health in the workplace has evolved significantly. As society becomes more aware…
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Employee Rights in the Face of Employer Bankruptcy
As the echoes of the COVID-19 pandemic fade away, the aftermath reveals a challenging landscape for some Canadian businesses. While…
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Feeling the Effects of Blue Monday?
Why is the third Monday of January labeled as “Blue Monday”? With the come down from the holidays, shortened daylight…
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Reality of Age Discrimination in the Workplace
Ageism is real problem in our society, and the workplace is no exception to that. Stereotypes abound about older employees:…
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Protecting Careers from Problem Drinking
Published By: Toronto Star Legal protection for issues with problem drinking in the workplace has been in place for decades,…
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Dismissed Employee Receives $600k for Discrimination
What Happened in the Mema v. City of Nanaimo (No. 2) Case? In a recent BC Human Rights Tribunal matter,…
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Maternity Leave: Job at Risk?
Are you certain that your job is secure during your maternity or parental leave? The whirlwind of new parenthood, coupled…
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Workplace Equality: Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day | United Nations The Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 75 today. This monumental document, the drafting…
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Maternity Leave: Behind the Scenes in Your Workplace!
Embarking on the journey of parenthood is a life-altering experience, and for many, the professional world becomes a complex maze…
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The Silent Struggle of Mental Health at Work
Why Is Addressing Mental Health at Work Crucial? Despite the fact that with each passing year mental health at work…
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As Incidents of Hate Speech Rise, When Can Employers Legally Sanction Workers?
Published By: THE GLOBE AND MAIL Incidents of Antisemitism and Islamophobia are drastically rising in Canada in the wake of the…
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Employers Using Human Rights Loopholes
Employees working for federally regulated employers, such as banks, are protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act, which lays out…
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Is Wearing a Poppy at Work a Right?
With Remembrance Day around the corner, Saskatchewan has turned its legislative mind to wearing poppy at work. The province has…
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Social Media Privacy in the Workplace?
Recently enacted legislation in the state of New York has passed that will prohibit employers from demanding the passwords to…
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Nepotism in the Workplace
Unfortunately, nepotism is a phenomenon that continues to persist in today’s society. It is doubtful anyone is a stranger to…
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World Mental Health Day
What is World Mental Health Day? October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, a time to raise awareness, educate folks,…
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Employee Wellbeing – A Human Right
As Canada shifts into more of a post-pandemic world, employees’ views towards prioritizing their wellbeing at work has shifted as…
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International Equal Pay Day: Is Discrimination Alive?
What is International Equal Pay Day? International Equal Pay Day, celebrated on September 18, represents the longstanding efforts towards achieving…
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Deleted WhatsApp Chats: An Employer Investigation Drama
Employer Investigation Unveiled: The Vanishing WhatsApp Messages In a recent legal dispute, a former senior executive has been accused of…
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Sick Notes: The Drama of Privacy and Accountability
Why is the Requirement for Sick Notes Making Headlines in Nova Scotia? An employer’s ability to ask an employee for…
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Disney Gender Discrimination: Unveiling Pay Inequity
What’s Behind the Disney Gender Discrimination Lawsuit? Sadly, pay equity continues to be an ongoing issue for employees. Companies that…
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Proximity Bias: The New Normal?
What is Proximity Bias and How Does it Affect the Hybrid Workplace? As the hybrid workplace becomes the new normal,…
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Pregnancy Discrimination: Timing of Termination and Bias
Pregnancy Discrimination: Can You Fire Someone for Being Pregnant? Although employers have a lot of latitude in determining who to…
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Mental Health in the Workplace
Why are over 60% of Canadians experiencing financial stress? Unsurprisingly, mental health, financial wellbeing, and mental health in the workplace…
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Parental Rights in Ontario: Balancing Work and Childcare
Families are the cornerstone of communities. By extension, the value of strong families extends to the health of a country…
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Navigating the Legalities of Tattoos in the Workplace
Tattoos, dyed hair and other forms of body expression are becoming increasingly common in today’s society. Studies show that over…
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Proposed Changes to Employment Standards Act Ontario to Address Remote Work
The widespread increase of remote work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be here to stay, and…
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Female Burnout in the Workplace Outweighs Male
In McKinsey’s recent “Women in the Workplace” report, women are leaving leadership roles “at the highest rate we’ve ever seen.”…
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Disney Employees Push Back on Return-to-Office Mandate
It has been 3 years since the COVID-19 pandemic officially started in March of 2020. During this time, many companies…
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Office Romance – Pros and Cons of Dating a Co-worker
The recent news of the now-former Toronto mayor John Tory’s affair with a colleague has sent shockwaves through Toronto’s political…
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Employment Law Protections for Parents Affected by Last-Minute Daycare Strike
Special to The Globe and Mail The question My child’s daycare was closed because of a last-minute daycare strike so…
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City of Burlington Mandates Mandatory Masks Again: Your Rights
Recently the City of Burlington re-launched a mandatory indoor mask policy for the City’s employees, effective from November 28, 2022,…
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TTC Drops Vaccine Mandate
The Toronto Transit Commission (“TTC”) has decided to drop its COVID-19 vaccine mandate that has been in place for approximately…
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CUPE Strike: What Are Working Parents Rights If They Have to Stay at Home Due to School Closures?
Many people are probably confused about the recent twist during the recent CUPE strike – the Ontario government just announced…
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CP24’s Patricia Jaggernauth Alleges Racial and Gender Discrimination
Recently Patricia Jaggernauth, a former Bell Media employee, filed a complaint under the Canadian Human Rights Act (the “Act”), with…
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Ontario Court Rules Seneca College’s Vaccine Policy Does Not Violate Charter
In a recent decision, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that Seneca College’s vaccine policy does not violate the…
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Top-up while on Maternity Leave: What Are the Rules?
What is maternity and parental leave? How to top up your maternity leave? A maternity leave for Canadian employees can…
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Federal Tribunal Reverses EI Denial For COVID-19 Vaccination Refusal
Federal Tribunal Reverses EI denial A federal tribunal has recently held that an employee terminated as a result of noncompliance…
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Quiet Quitting At Work – What You Need To Know
The term “Quiet Quitting” has been making headlines in the past few weeks as employees and employers alike discuss the…
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Lisa LaFlamme And Age Discrimination In The Workplace
Bell Media, the parent company of CTV News, announced today that it would conduct a workplace investigation of the recent…
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Unconscious Bias – Firing Workers When an Illness is Involved
Special to The Globe and Mail Far too often, employers make decisions that are tainted by discriminatory motivations, without even…
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Workplace Age Discrimination is on The Rise
Special to The Globe and Mail Workplace age discrimination is on the rise. But it can be difficult to detect.…
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Employee’s Privacy Rights in the Workplace: What is Acceptable?
The Ontario Court of Appeal’s most recent case involving an employee’s privacy rights in the workplace provides that Section 8…
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