Howard Employment Law

06/22/2023

HEL Announcement of Strategic Alliance with AEL

Howard Employment Law is pleased to announce it has formed a strategic alliance with Ascent Employment Law.
Ascent is an 8-member workplace law boutique firm based in Vancouver and Kelowna. It recently announced a merger with labour law (i.e. union sector) boutique Ukrainetz Law, based in Vernon.
Under the first phase of the arrangement, HEL will be collaborating with Ascent on marketing and professional development activities, as well as on selected files where our combined resources and expertise will benefit our clients.
The arrangement with HEL adds senior employment counsel Geoffrey Howard and his associate Sebastian Chern, along with their significant international, national and regional employer client base, to Ascent’s business.
HEL clients shortly will be able to access Ascent resources including:
a) Participation in “Employer Huddles”: practical webinars which address key topics facing employers. Please let us know if you would like to be added to the email list for these webinars;
b) Ascent articles and blog posts on employment topics;
c) A list of on-line resources, including government websites, which offer information and forms to employees and employers.
The two firms look forward to enhancing each other’s service offerings and depth of expertise.

02/02/2022

Employee’s Secret Recordings Justify Termination for Cause

See out latest blog post for more information: https://howardemploymentlaw.ca/employees-secret-recordings-justify-termination-for-cause/

Secret recordings can be abused by the recording party to “set up” the other party. Are such recordings acceptable conduct in the workplace?

01/26/2022

The Law of Resignation, Part Three: I Quit! Now What?

See out latest blog post for more information:

Until active employment ends, resigning employees are still expected to work loyally and in good faith for their employers.

01/14/2022

Return to Step Two (and Remote Work)

See Geoff Howard's latest Ontario Employer Alert: https://howardemploymentlaw.ca/return-to-step-two-and-remote-work/

Effective Jan. 5, 2022 and until at least Jan. 26, 2022, Ontario will be returning to a modified version of Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen

01/12/2022

New COVID Safety Plan Requirement

See Geoff Howard's latest BC Employer Alert:

BC announced that, effective January 7, 2022, businesses are once again required to implement COVID Safety Plan.

01/06/2022

The Law of Resignation, Part Two: Has an Employee Actually Quit? - See our latest blog post for more information:

In cases where an employee resigns during a heated exchange or emotional outburst, employers should seek to confirm the employee’s intention to resign.

12/16/2021

The Law of Resignation, Part One: How Much Notice is Required? - See our latest blog post for more information: https://howardemploymentlaw.ca/the-law-of-resignation-part-one-how-much-notice-is-required/

So, how much notice do employees need to give when resigning? The answer depends on legislation (in some provinces) and contract law.

12/08/2021

Upcoming Changes to the Canada Labour Code

See Geoff Howard's latest Federal Employer Alert: https://lnkd.in/ge-vcK6R

The Federal Government introduced a bill that would amend the Canada Labour Code to provide 10 days of paid sick leave per year for federally regulated private sector employees.

12/07/2021

See Geoff Howard's latest Ontario Employer Alert: New Working for Workers Act receives Royal Assent

ON new bill amends the ON ESA to ban non-compete agreements in employment and to require employers to have a policy on disconnecting from work

11/30/2021

Fiduciary Duties Restrict Departing Key Employees (even with no Written Agreement) - See our latest blog post for more information: https://howardemploymentlaw.ca/fiduciary-duties-restrict-departing-key-employees/

By way of exception, a few top employees may be considered “fiduciaries” who owe implied duties to their employer following termination.

11/25/2021

See Geoff Howard's latest BC Employer Alert: BC Mandates Five Paid Sick Days effective January 1, 2022
https://howardemploymentlaw.ca/bc-mandates-five-paid-sick-days-effective-january-1-2022/

11/25/2021

11/25/2021