A good reference letter can go a long way to help you land a job. They’re also invaluable to employers, looking to check out the claims an applicant has made in their resume or interview. But, both employers and employees have misconceptions about how the law applies to getting or providing a reference. Does your …
Reference Letters and the Law: The Power of a Positive (or Negative) Reference Read More »
Today is Equal Pay Day. This bittersweet holiday draws attention to the ongoing disparity between men and women’s pay. While pay discrimination has been illegal for decades, the income cap persists. In Ontario, the gender pay gap ranges from industry to industry, but averages just below 30%. The gap is wider for racialized, indigenous, trans …
Equal Pay Day: When Will Ontario Women Get Pay Equality? Read More »
Sure, sexual harassment is illegal. But what can you do about it? One reason I feel so strongly about women’s rights at work is because I’ve faced sexual harassment on the job, too. As a young woman, long before the #metoo and #timesup campaigns (or the invention of hashtags!) I didn’t know where to turn …
Me Too, Now What? Responding To Ontario Workplace Sexual Harassment Read More »
The Union that represents Air Canada flight attendants made news this month when it filed a human rights complaint against the airline based in part on its uniform and make-up rules. The Union alleges that the airline’s dress code discriminates against employees on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and race. If your employer has rules about …
Discrimination & Dress Codes: Can My Employer Make Me Wear Make-up? Read More »
The Ontario Employment Standards Act (the “ESA”) changed significantly in January 2018. The most talked about change has been an increase in minimum wage, however there are a few other notable changes workers and employer should know about. This week, we tackle time off: vacation, sick days and personal days (a.k.a personal emergency leave)! 2019 NOTE: RECENT AMENDMENTS …
Take The Day Off! New Rules For Sick Days, Personal Days and Vacation Read More »
This year’s Oscars were not just glamorous- they were political! And no surprise, the #metoo and #timesup hashtags took off in large part because female celebrities started naming and shaming their famous sexual harassers. But you don’t have to be a regular on the red carpet to build on Frances McDormand’s call for an “inclusion …
I Have Two Words For You: Inclusion Rider (AKA Affirmative Action) Read More »
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has awarded a former retail worker $200,000 in damages for sexual harassment, sexual assault and racist discrimination in one of its largest awards to-date: Joe Singer Shoes. The complainant was an immigrant who spoke English as a second language and single mother to a son with a disability. In addition to working …
Sexual Harassment by Boss Leads to Record Human Rights Damages Award Read More »
If you just found out you’re welcoming a new child to your family, you may be entitled to significantly more maternity leave or parental leave than last year’s new parents. The federal government rolled out changes to pregnancy and parental leave benefits (aka “maternity leave” or “paternity leave”) in December 2017, announcing that new parents …
No one likes to think about getting fired or laid off. And it’s certainly not on most people’s minds when they start a new job. In the excitement of taking on a new challenge (and maybe a new, higher salary!), many people don’t take the time to read or understand their entire employment contract. This …
