Resources: Employment

  • Non-Competition Provision Results in Increased Notice Period

    November 2014

    by James D. Kondopulos

    In the recent case of Ostrow v. Abacus Management Corporation Mergers and Acquisitions, 2014 BCSC 938, the B.C. Supreme Court followed an approach taken in a small handful of cases (predominantly out of Ontario but including an appellate case out of B.C.) and confirmed….

    Read More +

    Non-Competition Provision Results in Increased Notice Period
  • Equal, not Better, Treatment: Accommodating Employees with Disabilities

    November 2014

    by Michael R. Kilgallin

    In Jardine v. Costco Wholesale Canada, 2014 BCHRT 214, the employer was able to accommodate an employee, while holding its ground on certain requests from the employee.

     

     

    Read More +

    Equal, not Better, Treatment: Accommodating Employees with Disabilities
  • Disabled Employee Entitled to Equal Treatment, Not Better Treatment

    October 2014

    by Michael R. Kilgallin

    A recent case from the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal addressed the protections afforded to an employee who could no longer work at a full-time level on account of her disability. In particular, the issues of guaranteed hours of work and the right to full-time benefits were canvassed.

     

    Read More +

    Disabled Employee Entitled to Equal Treatment, Not Better Treatment
  • Be Thorough, Thoughtful and Careful in the Accommodation Process: Rajigadu v. University of British Columbia (No. 3), 2014 BCHRT 157 (McCreary)

    October 2014

    by Gabrielle Scorer

    Ron Rajigadu was employed as an electrician at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, alleging that UBC discriminated against him on the basis of physical and mental disability by failing to accommodate him and terminating his employment.

     

    Read More +

    Be Thorough, Thoughtful and Careful in the Accommodation Process: Rajigadu v. University of British Columbia (No. 3), 2014 BCHRT 157 (McCreary)
  • Handle with Care – Non-Competition Provision Results in Increased Notice Period

    September 2014

    by James D. Kondopulos

    Before incorporating a non-competition provision into an employee’s contract of employment or reminding a departing employee that a non-competition provision precludes the employee from competing and will be enforced against him or her, employers should carefully consider the value of proceeding in such a fashion and all of the ramifications.

     

    Read More +

    Handle with Care – Non-Competition Provision Results in Increased Notice Period
  • Recent Decision from B.C. Court of Appeal Cautions Employees to Consider Skeletons in The Closet Before Suing for Wrongful Dismissal

    August 2014

    by Jennifer Hogan

    In a recent decision, Van den Boogaard v. Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd., 2014 BCCA 168, the B.C. Court of Appeal upheld the discharge of a senior manager who, in the period of time following his dismissal without cause, was discovered by the employer to have been soliciting illegal drugs from a subordinate employee.

    Read More +

    Recent Decision from B.C. Court of Appeal Cautions Employees to Consider Skeletons in The Closet Before Suing for Wrongful Dismissal
  • And the Employee Said to the Employer: “You Can’t Touch This”

    March 2014

    by Jennifer Hogan

    On December 13, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) issued its decision in IBM Canada Ltd. v. Waterman, 2013 SCC 70, confirming that employers may not deduct earned pension benefits from wrongful dismissal damages.

    Read More +

    And the Employee Said to the Employer: “You Can’t Touch This”
  • Employee’s Damages Reduced for Failure to Mitigate by Accepting Re-Employment

    July 2014

    by Jennifer S. Russell

    Mr. Hooge was a mill worker for Gillwood Remanufacturing Ltd. (“Gillwood”), which owned and operated a mill in Chilliwack. He was originally hired in 1975 and worked his way up the ranks to the position of production supervisor. Hooge maintained that position through a series of ownership changes…

    Read More +

    Employee’s Damages Reduced for Failure to Mitigate by Accepting Re-Employment
  • Be Reasonable When It Comes to Reasonable Notice: Kotecha v. Affinia Canada ULC, 2014 ONCA 411

    July 2014

    For 20 years, Niranjan Kotecha worked as a machine operator for Affinia Canada ULC, an auto parts manufacturer. In 2011, he was dismissed on a “without cause” basis and provided with 11 weeks of notice. Mr. Kotecha was 70 years old at the time of trial.

    Read More +

    Be Reasonable When It Comes to Reasonable Notice: Kotecha v. Affinia Canada ULC, 2014 ONCA 411
  • The Long and Difficult Road to Establish Just Cause for a Performance-Based Termination

    June 2014

    by Michael R. Kilgallin

    An employer that wants to dismiss an underperforming employee has two options: (1) terminate without cause and provide the applicable notice or pay in lieu; or (2) terminate with just cause and provide no notice or pay in lieu.

    Read More +

    The Long and Difficult Road to Establish Just Cause for a Performance-Based Termination