Terminations 102: Terminating Employment Relationships in a Time of Tariffs

April 24, 2025

Navigating the Impact of Substance Abuse in the Workplace: Challenges and Solutions

March 27, 2025

When can employers require drug or alcohol testing? What corrective actions can be taken if the employee tests positive or appears impaired at work? Can employers take any action against off-duty consumption?

Navigating drug and alcohol use in the workplace presents complex legal and operational challenges for Canadian employers. From accommodation obligations to enforcing policies and handling impairment concerns, understanding the legal landscape is essential.

In this webinar, we will discuss recent legal developments, key employer obligations, and practical strategies for balancing workplace safety, policy enforcement, and human rights compliance in unionized and non-unionized workplaces.

Presenters: Danny Parker, Emily La Mantia, and Alyssa Johnson

L&E Global Webinar Series: 2025, Looking Ahead in Canada and USA

Feb. 28, 2025

Check the Box: The 2025 Ontario Employer’s Guide to Legal Compliance

Feb. 11, 2025

2024 ended with a bang with several significant legal developments impacting employers of all shapes and sizes. In this webinar, our team of lawyers will unpack noteworthy legal cases and legislative updates, including the three most recent iterations of Ontario’s Working for Workers’ Act. Join us for this comprehensive overview of the latest legal developments affecting your workplace to ensure that your organization is prepared for the year ahead. 

Presenters: Chris Little, Catherine Phelps and Rebecca Rosenberg

Forecasting for 2025: Navigating New Deals in Ontario’s Construction Industry

Jan. 30, 2025

2025 marks a year of transition for Ontario’s construction industry, with numerous province-wide agreements set to expire. This will trigger collective bargaining and could lead to lockouts, strikes, and picketing. And in the lead-up, a window opens where one union might seek to displace an incumbent union, or employees may attempt to decertify an existing union. This webinar offers insights on navigating the developments and potential challenges facing employers in the construction industry in 2025.

Presenters: Diane Laranja, James Jennings, Michael Lee and Nikki Banwait

And that’s a Wrap: Labour and Employment Year in Review 2024

Dec. 12, 2024

It has been another year of significant change for businesses and employers across the country. Join us for a complimentary webinar as we take a look back at some of the key labour and employment developments of 2024, discuss some of the most notable cases and legislative developments, and provide insight into what to expect in 2025.

Presenters: Jamie Knight, Misbah Anis and Adele Zhang

From Remote to Hybrid: Employer Strategies for Managing Virtual Workplaces

Nov. 27, 2024

This webinar is designed for employers navigating virtual workplaces. As workplace expectations evolve, managing virtual teams effectively and ensuring productivity, engagement, and compliance have become essential. In this webinar, our team will cover several key topics, including accommodating remote workers, managing OHSA in virtual settings, addressing jurisdiction issues, the right to demand employees return to work, privacy-related issues and how remote work may affect the right to disconnect. 

Presenters: Geoff Ryans, Mark Van Ginkel and Rebecca Rosenberg

Pay Now or Pay the Price: An Employer’s Guide to Navigating Pay Equity

Nov. 13, 2024

In Ontario and federally, most public and private sector employers have obligations under pay equity legislation to ensure jobs of equal value receive equal pay. Pay equity is more than simply a lack of discrimination in wages between men and women (also referred to as “equal pay for equal work”), or paying “market wages”. Pay equity is an ongoing process to value and compare different jobs in order to redress systemic gender discrimination in compensation.
 
In this webinar, our Pay Equity Team will walk you through the pay equity legal landscape in Ontario and federally, including the processes and timelines employers must follow to achieve and maintain pay equity, and the potential risks and significant financial liabilities for non-compliance.

Presenters: Carol Nielsen, Melanie McNaught, Lucas Mapplebeck and Alyssa Johnson

Employee Snooping and Employers as Government Agents: Recent Developments in Workplace Privacy

Oct. 17, 2024

Privacy issues arise in the workplace in a number of important ways. Recent developments on this front have included a key Supreme Court case finding that public school boards are “government agents” for the purposes of a Charter s. 8 analysis, and cases dealing with the problematic issue of employee snooping. Join our team of presenters as they explain these and other recent developments in the intersections between workplace management and privacy law. 

Presenters: Casey Dockendorff, Spencer Knibutat and Naomi Santesteban

Navigating the Duty to Accommodate

Sept. 17, 2024

The duty to accommodate employees under human rights legislation can be a time-consuming, convoluted, and frustrating process for employers. Alongside providing an overview of the duty to accommodate, our team of presenters will share their insights on best practices for employers to follow when accommodating employees to ensure that accommodations are fair, appropriate, and reasonable. Additional topics of discussion will include managing employee demands for specific forms of accommodations, requesting medical information from employees’ health care practitioners, and family status accommodation.

Presenters: Diane Laranga, Emily La Mantia and Brendan Egan

Likes, Shares, and Legal Affairs: Navigating Social Media in the Workplace

June 25, 2024

As social media continues to shape our personal and professional lives, its impact on the workplace has become increasingly significant. Join us for an insightful webinar where we will explore the critical intersection of social media with employment law. This session will cover several key topics, including privacy rights, employer monitoring of social media, disciplinary actions for social media misuse, and issues related to online harassment. We will also delve into the legalities of using social media in hiring decisions and in terminations, as well as the importance of comprehensive social media policies. 

This webinar will provide valuable guidance and practical strategies for all employers looking to protect their business and effectively manage their workforce. Do not miss this opportunity to stay informed and proactive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Presenters: Hina Saeed, Anja Trapara and Alyssa Johnson

Working for Workers and Beyond: 2024 Employment Standards Update

May 28, 2024

Bill 149, the Working for Workers Four Act, 2023 (the Act) received royal assent on March 21, 2024. This webinar will focus on the practical ramifications the Act has on employment standards in Ontario, as well as other recent changes to employment standards legislation across Canada. The objective of this presentation is to ensure employers are well-prepared for these imminent changes in Ontario, as well as to provide practical advice for navigating similar concerns in the other provincial jurisdictions that are relevant to their business.

Presenters: Laura J. Freitag, Lucas Mapplebeck and Michael Halliburton

An Employer’s Guide to Insightful Hiring Practices for Today’s Workplace

April 18, 2024

This webinar will explore best practices in hiring new employees, taking into account recent technological advancements in AI, the hiring of remote workers, and recent case law. Our Presenters will guide you through the hiring process in full compliance with current legislation, such as the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.  Our goal is to ensure attendees are well-prepared with proper documentation, including enforceable employment agreements, to support their position in the event of any future litigation.

Presenters: Ashley Brown, Michael Lee and Clifton Yiu

L&E Global Webinar Series: 2024 Looking Ahead in Canada & USA

April 2, 2024

This webinar will focus on the significant labour and employment challenges in 2024 in Canada and the U.S. We’ll also address your questions to prepare you for 2024.

Presenters: 

Robert B. Bayne (Partner at Filion, Canada)

John L. Sander, (Partner at JacksonLewis, US)

An Employer's Guide to Navigating Canada's New Supply Chain Transparency Legislation

March 26, 2024

If you respond yes – or even maybe – to any of the following questions, there is new legislation that may apply to your organization. Does your organization or an entity it controls produce, sell, distribute or import goods? Is it a federal government institution? Is it listed on a stock exchange? Did it earn $40 million of business or have $20 million of assets in Canada or employ 250 people in either 2022 or 2023? 

The Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (or the “Modern Slavery Legislation”), which came into force earlier this year, requires a report to Public Safety Canada by May 31, 2024. Failing to file that report could cost your organization $250,000. In this webinar, we will provide an overview of the legislation, including how to determine whether your organization will need to report, and share best practices to ensure compliance.

Presenters: Carl W. Peterson, James Jennings and Nikki Banwait

Putting Theory to Practice: Conducting Procedurally Sound Workplace Harassment Investigations

March 5, 2024

Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to conduct investigations that are “reasonable in the circumstances” into allegations of workplace harassment. But what does this mean in practice? In this webinar, our team of lawyers and workplace investigators will review the foundational legal principles underpinning fair and legally defensible investigations into allegations of workplace harassment. Topics of discussion will include:

• The duty to investigate allegations of workplace harassment
• Selecting an appropriate investigator
• The duty of procedural fairness
• Factors to consider in conducting credibility assessments. 

Invisible Disabilities: Strategies to Manage Addiction Issues in the Workplace

Feb. 21, 2024

Addiction issues in the workplace are an increasingly pervasive challenge for employers to navigate. Given employers’ legal obligations to accommodate employees with disabilities, this can pose many practical challenges. In this interactive seminar, our team will share strategies to ensure that you are meeting your legal obligations and help you manage issues related to disability in the workplace, with a specific focus on addiction.

And that’s a Wrap: Labour and Employment Year in Review 2023

Dec. 12, 2023

It has been another year of significant change for businesses and employers across the country. Join us for a complimentary webinar as we take a look back at some of the key labour and employment developments of 2023, discuss some of the most notable cases and legislative developments, and provide insight into what to expect in 2024.

Preventing the Worst: Occupational Health and Safety Tips and Strategies

Oct. 23, 2023

Unsafe workplaces can have devastating consequences for employees and can also result in significant legal consequences for employers and supervisors, including large fines and, in extreme cases, imprisonment.

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.