Cross-Country Legal Update: Employment Contracts and Remote Work (presented by the Advocates for Employers of Canada)

June 13, 2023

As workplaces emerge from the pandemic, employers across Canada continue to face unique challenges and new expectations. AEC has assembled a panel of knowledgeable speakers from coast to coast who, in this informative webinar, will discuss the latest updates in Canadian labour and employment law.

Change Is Afoot! Critical Developments in Employment Law

May 30, 2023

Ontario's employment laws have significantly evolved in recent months, with major developments being released from both the courts and the legislature. In this interactive seminar, our team will share strategies to help you navigate the rapidly changing landscape and ensure compliance with your legal obligations.

Spring Cleaning after COVID-19: Dusting Off and Tidying Up Those Pesky Outstanding Claims

April 26, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic is gradually becoming a thing of the past, but its effects are still being felt across Canadian workplaces. In this informative webinar, our panelists will review some of the lingering issues faced by employers and ways to minimize outstanding legal claims. 

The Duty to Accommodate: Managing Employee Expectations Post-COVID

March 22, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a wave of new and unique accommodation requests for employers to navigate. To assist employers in dealing with these complex and emerging accommodation issues, our expert panel of lawyers will discuss the latest legal developments and share practical strategies for responding to accommodation requests and managing employee expectations.

Terminations 101: Prepare Your Business for a Possible Recession

Feb. 28, 2023

Economists have warned that Canada will almost certainly experience a recession in 2023. Stay ahead of the curve and join us on February 28th for a discussion on how to manage terminations during an economic downturn. During this presentation, we will offer guidance on how to implement lawful terminations to reduce your litigation risk and tips for handling tricky termination issues to help you feel prepared for any scenario.

How to Manage the Cyber Risks in Your Workplace

Feb. 14, 2023

The data of Canadian organizations is increasingly under threat of cyberattack and security breach. With the rapidly-evolving state of privacy laws and digital technology, businesses need to be vigilant in combatting attacks from cybercriminals and securing the data they hold about their operations, employees, and clients. This interactive seminar will ensure that you stay up-to-date on emerging cybersecurity developments and keep you and your clients’ most valuable business assets protected.

Presented in collaboration with 

Account and Claim Management to Reduce WSIB Costs

Dec. 14, 2022

Join us on December 14th as Carissa Tanzola, Hossein Moghtaderi, and James Jennings give you the practical tools to manage (and challenge) WSIB claims and discover if your industry classification may be artificially increasing your WSIB costs.

Digital Nomads: Legal Considerations for Employers

Nov. 4, 2022

As remote and hybrid work become increasingly common across Canadian workplaces, employees are less geographically tied to their employers’ physical offices than ever before. This seminar will review what employers need to know when navigating and managing cross-border work arrangements.

Spooky Stories: Tales of Aggravated Damage Awards

Oct. 20, 2022

In this webinar, our expert panel will review recent legal trends involving awards of aggravated damages and provide practical tips on how to appropriately conduct an employment termination to avoid penalization by a court, tribunal, or labour arbitrator.

Fact or Fiction: A Practical Guide to Defamation in the Workplace

Aug. 11, 2022

What is defamation? How does it arise in the workplace? What can employers do to protect their good name and business reputation when an employee engages in defamatory acts? This seminar will provide an in-depth look at the current law on defamation in the context of Ontario workplaces and offer practical guidance for responding to defamatory acts.

Post-Pandemic Workforce Management (presented by Advocates for Employers of Canada)

June 7, 2022

What will the post-pandemic workforce look like across Canada? In this lively webinar, a nationwide panel of lawyers from Advocates for Employers of Canada will address current employment issues, share important legal developments, and provide practical strategies to help employers successfully navigate the new world of work.

On-Site Once More: Strategies for an Effective Return to the Physical Workplace

June 2, 2022

Are you ready to head back to the physical workplace? In this webinar, our team will provide you with knowledge and tools to successfully navigate the transition to onsite work, including how to manage new workplace dynamics, changes to employee expectations, and novel challenges caused by these unprecedented times.

Keeping Secrets in Ontario: Workplace Privacy and Data Breach Management

May 12, 2022

Is your business information adequately protected? This seminar will provide an in-depth look at the current privacy framework in Ontario and what employers should do to prevent and respond to potential data breaches and ransomware attacks.

Mental Health and the Workplace - A Practical Guide

Feb. 25, 2022

Workplaces are an integral part of employees’ lives.  As such, it is important for employers to proactively work towards a work environment that fosters positive mental health. This can be achieved through improving workplace morale, monitoring language, and embracing the unique characteristics of employees. With the onslaught of the pandemic and varying workplace changes, employees have come to know new forms of work environments and changes to their interactions with colleagues. As more changes come into play, such as welcoming employees back to their physical workplace, some individuals may face significant mental health stressors.

Working for Workers Act- Impact on Workplace Policies and Employee Rights

Jan. 31, 2022

The government of Ontario introduced the Working for Workers Act, 2021, (“Bill 27”) late last year, impacting employer responsibilities and employee rights. Our upcoming webinar is set to provide participants with an overview of the effects of Bill 27, our recommendations as to how employers should respond to the new obligations and prohibitions posed by the legislation, and the issues we expect employers to be contending with as a result of Bill 27 in the coming months.

During this webinar, we will discuss:

• What it means to disconnect and its impact on workplace policies
• Reviewing the three most common restrictive covenants found in employment agreements (non-solicitation agreements, non-compete agreements, and confidentiality agreements) and reviewing the restrictions imposed on non-complete clauses and agreements per Bill 27
• A Brief Update on COVID-19 restrictions and Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL)

We look forward to hosting you at our webinar.

2021: Another Novel Year, Another Novel Review

Dec. 2, 2021

As the global pandemic continues and businesses face the associated challenges, 2021 has become another hallmark year for labour and employment law developments. This webinar will provide participants with an overview of the legal developments of 2021, analysis of the key changes relevant to employers, and insight into key issues expected to arise in 2022.

Topics covered in this engaging webinar will include the following: 

• Wrongful dismissal litigation: how have the courts addressed CERB and Infectious Disease Emergency Leave?
• Human rights and accommodation: what obligations arise in administering vaccination and masking policies?
• Potential new tort actions: what impact does the new internet harassment tort have on Ontario workplaces?
• Independent contractors and employees: should gig economy workers be considered employees?
• Competing labour and human rights jurisdiction: how have the Courts address unionized workers bringing claims in other forums?
• Legislative changes: what should employers know about the newly introduced Working for Workers Act, 2021? 

We look forward to having you at our webinar!

Hiring Do’s, Don’ts and Best Practices

Oct. 28, 2021

The hiring process can be challenging to navigate at the best of times, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has added new complexities to employers’ recruiting and hiring initiatives. In this webinar we will review hiring do’s, don’ts, and best practices.

Topics covered in this informative webinar will include:

• Screening and background checks: what is permitted?
• Application forms and interviews: what questions are off-limits?
• COVID-19 vaccination: can it be a condition of employment for new hires?
• Accommodation: what are an employer’s obligations in the recruitment process?
• Remote interviews and work arrangements: what are the key considerations?

We look forward to having you at our webinar. 

What’s Next? Your COVID-19 “Reopening” Questions Answered

Sept. 28, 2021

About this topic:
As vaccination rates climb and COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, concerns about the potential impact of a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic loom large as the Delta variant threatens to undermine the progress made in the fight against the virus to date.  Businesses are looking towards the fall and winter seasons to determine how best to navigate the likely changes and challenges that lie ahead. Amidst the uncertainty of what comes next, we know that employers have questions. And we are prepared to answer them!

Answering YOUR questions:
Are you considering mandatory vaccination policies, revising your COVID-19 safety plan, or looking to implement long-term remote work arrangements?  Perhaps you are facing resistance returning staff to the workplace, or dealing with an onslaught of accommodation requests? 

Whatever your reopening question, submit it to events@filion.on.ca by Friday, September 17, 2021, and we will do our best to address your issue in this live and engaging webinar.

AEC Webinar - Cross-Canada Accommodation Update

Sept. 22, 2021

Workplace accommodation can be one of the most challenging issues faced by HR and LR professionals. And the ongoing pandemic has added another nuanced layer to this already complicated area of law. 

AEC has assembled a panel of knowledgeable speakers from coast to coast who will review the latest case law developments, and provide practical tips and strategies to help employers successfully navigate accommodation issues in their workplace.

Topics covered in this engaging webinar will include:

• General Legal Principles
• Family Status Accommodation
• Religious Accommodation
• Disability Accommodation
• Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace
• COVID-19 Considerations

Off-Duty Conduct: When is it an Employer’s Business?

June 24, 2021

Join us for an engaging and informative discussion that will answer some of the most pressing questions relating to off-duty conduct.

Employment Contracts: What Canadian Employers Need to Know

June 15, 2021

This informative webinar will review the latest case law developments, as well as provide practical tips and strategies to address common contractual issues.

COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Workplace

May 27, 2021

Join us for an engaging and informative discussion that will answer some of employers’ most pressing vaccine-related questions.

Drugs & Alcohol in the Canadian Workplace

April 22, 2021

This webinar will update attendees on the latest legal developments. It will also review practical strategies – in the context of both the physical and remote workplace – that can be implemented to effectively manage drug and alcohol issues.

Federal Sector Update 2021

Feb. 24, 2021

This webinar – designed specifically for federally regulated employers – will review recent legislative changes, and provide practical guidance on how to ensure compliance with the new requirements

COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal

Jan. 12, 2021

This seminar will address both new and ongoing issues employers face managing their workplaces through the pandemic. 

2020: The Year (and, oh, what a year!) in Review

Dec. 1, 2020

This engaging webinar will provide participants with an overview of key developments that occurred in 2020, and will offer insight into what employers can anticipate in the year ahead.

Managing Attendance Amidst COVID-19

Oct. 21, 2020

Navigating employee absenteeism and the duty to accommodate are not new challenges for employers. However, COVID-19 has brought about new and nuanced considerations that add an additional layer of complexity to these workplace issues.

Defining the Relationship: Employee vs Contractor

Sept. 24, 2020

Navigating employee classifications is not always straightforward and the consequences of a misclassification can be significant.

Working From Home: Hard at Work or Hardly Working?

June 17, 2020

Whether employers are adopting remote work arrangements only in the short-term, or are implementing telework as a long-term business strategy, there are important legal considerations that should not be overlooked. We invite you to join us for a webinar designed to will help employers navigate the practical and legal issues associated with working from home, whether during or after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Back to Work: The Future of the Workplace Post COVID-19

May 6, 2020

We invite you to join us for a webinar that will help employers identify, and effectively manage, issues related to the anticipated reopening of the economy amidst the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

COVID-19: Effective Workplace Management in a Global Pandemic

April 22, 2020

Join us for an online session which will address both the legal and practical realities faced by employers in the current economic climate.

Advocates for Employers of Canada COVID-19 Webinar

April 7, 2020

As COVID-19 continues to spread, employers are faced with an increasing number of challenges which range from maintaining workplace health and safety, to ensuring ongoing business viability. Join us for an informative online session with AEC lawyers from each jurisdiction across the country.

Managing Mental Health Issues in the Workplace

Feb. 13, 2020

Join us as we discuss practical tips and strategies for the effective management of mental health issues in the workplace.

Workplace Investigations: Focusing on Fundamentals

Jan. 15, 2020

Knowing how to conduct an appropriate investigation and avoid common procedural pitfalls is essential for HR and LR professionals.

New WSIB Rate Framework: Understanding the Changes and Controlling Future Costs

Nov. 26, 2019

Employees Gone Wild: Tips to Avoid and Address Indecency in the Workplace

Nov. 21, 2019

Join us for an engaging and informative session which will address the duty to protect employees from discrimintion and harassment in the workplace, what policies employers should consider, and employer obligations at workplace events.

Effective Employment Agreements: Make the Most of Your Contracts

Oct. 22, 2019

Our October seminar will provide attendees with an overview of the essential elements of an effective employment agreement.

Significant Changes to the Canada Labour Code: What Federally Regulated Employers Need to Know

Sept. 25, 2019

Our upcoming seminar will provide participants with a practical overview of key amendments to the Canada Labour Code.

Workers' Compensation Bootcamp Seminar #3 - The Effect of Workplace Injury Claims on Concurrent Proceedings

June 25, 2019

This is the final session of our three-part series on employer workers' compensation issues.

Human Capital - Best Practices for Hiring in 2019

May 9, 2019

Adding talented employees to the workforce tops many employers' to-do-lists. But effectively navigating the legalities of the hiring process can require some forethought - especially when it comes to complying with the Human Rights Code.

Incentive Programs: What Employers Need to Know

April 23, 2019

Most businesses use some form of incentive program to motivate employees. Directly linking compensation to performance can often achieve short-term business goals, such as increasing productivity, reducing problematic behaviors, and improving retention and morale. But this approach is not without its problems; in particular, employers need to be aware of the legal ramifications.

Workers' Compensation Bootcamp Seminar #2 - WSIB Accounts: Analyzing the information and thinking outside the box

March 20, 2019

As the second seminar in our Workers' Compensation Bootcamp series, this session will focus on workers’ compensation account information and how to critically assess whether further efforts can be made to reduce costs.

Flying Solo: Best Practices for Managing Proceedings Commenced by Self-Represented Litigants

Feb. 28, 2019

An increasing number of current and former employees are choosing to pursue their claims through courts and tribunals as self-represented litigants, without the assistance of legal counsel.

Workers' Compensation Bootcamp: Seminar #1 WSIB Claims: Active management to achieve actual results

Jan. 31, 2019

Effective management of workers’ compensation claims should be an essential tool in every employer’s kit. It can prevent unnecessary extended absences and surcharges and foster positive employee-relations.

Cheech and Chong go to Work: Legal Marijuana and Criminal Record Checks

Oct. 23, 2018

With the legalization of marijuana and impending changes to Ontario's regime for criminal record checks, October and November bring important developments for Ontario's workplaces.

Data Breaches: What Employers Need to Know

Sept. 26, 2018

Employers are required to obtain and retain private, sensitive data, including with respect to their employees. This seminar will focus on what employers should do if the data they have collected is compromised.

Labour and Employment Challenges for the Small Business

June 27, 2018

Small businesses face unique labour and employment challenges due to limited human resource capacity. These include issues relating to hiring and retaining employees, complying with government regulations and obligations under relevant legislation, and implementing appropriate policies and procedures.

Assessing Employer Compliance with the Law on Substance Use in the Workplace

May 30, 2018

Maintaining safety in the workplace requires employers to be proactive. Employers must ask the right questions, collaborate with workers, and take every reasonable precaution.

Sharpening our Pencils: Best Practices for Drafting and Terminating Employment Contracts

April 25, 2018

In our April seminar, we will discuss best practices and common pitfalls for employers when entering into, altering and terminating an employment agreement. Seminar attendees will come away with effective strategies for developing and maintaining enforceable employment agreements.

Attendance Management and Terminations: Tips to Ease Your Stress

March 28, 2018

In our March seminar, we will review the nuanced subject of attendance management and absenteeism.