The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has awarded a record $200,000 as a human rights damage award in the case of AB v Joe Singer Shoes Limited, where the employee suffered injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect resulting from repeated sexual assault and harassment.
De Bousquet PC Barristers and Solicitors
May an employee who has resigned her position of employment by way of a notice of retirement later rescind her written notice of retirement? If so, under what conditions may she do so?
Sean Bawden
Under the common law, and specifically under Sections 25(2)(h) and 32.0.5 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario), every employer has a duty to conduct a workplace investigation after an incident of workplace violence has allegedly occurred. In other words, if an employer gets a complaint about violence at work, or if the employer witnesses violence at work, it must conduct an investigation.
Jeff Dutton, Dutton Employment Law
Establishing a process for the practical aspects of shift cancellation notifications in a company policy would go a long way to protect employers from paying a worker who claims that he or she did not know about the cancelled shift because he or she failed to check the method of communication for notifications.
Ava Z Moradi, JD
The case detailed here does not mean that employers can sue employees for any losses that arise out of their employment. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain compensation for negligent work, or mistakes. However, where there is deliberate misconduct like in this case, remedies are available to the employer beyond dismissal for cause.
Rudner Law, Employment / HR Law & Mediation