1. Willson Lewis LLP Barristers and Solicitors
WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities
67 Mowat Avenue, Suite 346, Toronto, Ontario M6K 3E3, Tel: Fax:

2. Willson Lewis LLP BIOGRAPHIES
CATHERINE E. WILLSON, B.A., LL.B., PARTNER
A longstanding member of the Ontario Bar Association, Catherine E. Willson is a founding partner of Willson Lewis LLP, and has established a successful practice in employment law, civil litigation, equine, collections, construction, and family law. She was an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario) – Civil Litigation Section. She is also a member of the Advocates Society, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Toronto Construction Association. Catherine is both the Chairman of the Risk Management Committee and an Honourary Governor of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Catherine is the legal expert for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (Member Services) and is a regular speaker at legal and business conferences, an instructor at the University of Guelph, and writes on legal issues for several national publications.
CRAIG A. LEWIS, B.A., LL.B., PARTNER
Has been practicing employment law since being called to the Bar. He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen’s University and was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in A member of the Ontario Bar Association, Advocates Society, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and the Metropolitan Toronto Lawyers Association. Craig has been a speaker at Ontario Bar Association seminars concerning advocacy matters and has litigated at all levels of Court in the Province. In his employment practice, Craig has prepared employment contracts and independent contractor agreements. He has provided advice on hiring, terminations packages and wrongful dismissal claims. He has assisted clients in drafting employment policy manuals. Craig has extensive experience in responding to human rights complaints.

3. Willson Lewis LLP BIOGRAPHIES
MARLENE KAZMAN B.Sc., LL.B. - ASSOCIATE
Marlene was called to the Ontario Bar in 1993, having received her LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario and completing her articles at one of the oldest law firms in Canada. Marlene’s practice includes civil, matrimonial and construction lien law. Marlene has trial experience at all levels of Court in the Province of Ontario, and she is a member of the Ontario Bar Association and the Women’s Law Association of Ontario. Marlene is a frequent contributing writer of legal information articles for the National Credit News.
STEFANIE NAVASCUES, B.A., LL.B. - ASSOCIATE
Stefanie Navascues was called to the Ontario Bar in After completing her articles with the Ministry of the Attorney General, Stefanie entered private practice as an associate in a boutique civil litigation firm. She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, as well as the Ontario Court of Justice and various administrative tribunals. Stefanie continues her practice in all areas of civil litigation. Stefanie is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, the York Region Law Association, and is also a member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers' Association. Stefanie is fluent in Spanish, and has a good working knowledge of French and Italian.
AIMEE COLYER, B.A., LL.B. – ASSOCIATE
Aimee was called to the Ontario Bar in After completing her articles with Willson Lewis LLP, Aimee practised as an associate with two large Bay Street firms. In 2009, she returned to the firm to practice family law and civil litigation. Aimee is a member of the Ontario Bar Association.

4. Our experienced counsel practice:
Civil Litigation
dispute resolution
court actions, applications, injunctive relief
commercial disputes
personal disputes
mediation and arbitration
Employment Law
employment contracts and consulting agreements
wrongful dismissal
conflicts in the workplace
termination packages

5. Our experienced counsel practice:
Construction Law
construction projects (general contract/project management/design build)
preparation of construction contracts
tender advice and resolution of disputes
negotiation and litigation of construction disputes including lien actions and breach of trust issues
Family Law
divorce, separation, custody, support, property issues
separation agreements
cohabitation and marriage contracts
settlement negotiation and mediation

6. Our experienced counsel practice:
Equine Law
Dispute resolution, litigation
purchase and sale agreements, boarding agreements and leasing agreements
co-ownership agreements and syndications

7. WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities

8. RELEVANT LEGISLATION RE: WORKPLACE CONDUCT
Ontario Human Rights Code
Canadian Human Rights Act
Occupational Health and Safety Act

9. RELEVANT LEGISLATION RE: WORKPLACE CONDUCT
Human Rights Code, s.5(1), 5(2) and 7(2)
S. 5(1) Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to employment without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability. R.S.O. 1990
s. 5(2) Every person who is an employee has a right to freedom from harassment in the workplace by the employer or agent of the employer or by another employee because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability
s. 7(2)  Every person who is an employee has a right to freedom from harassment in the workplace because of sex by his or her employer or agent of the employer or by another employee. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, s. 7 (2).

10. RELEVANT LEGISLATION RE: WORKPLACE CONDUCT
Canadian Human Rights Act, s. 14(1)
Section 14 (1) of the Act states that harassment is a discriminatory practice with respect to:
(a) in the provision of goods, services, facilities or accommodation customarily available to the general public,
(b) in the provision of commercial premises or residential accommodation, or
(c) in matters related to employment,
to harass an individual on a prohibited ground of discrimination

11. RELEVANT LEGISLATION RE: WORKPLACE CONDUCT
Occupational Health and Safety Act, Bill 168
Currently, employers who contravene the Act are guilty of an offence and face fines pursuant to section 66.
Bill 168 will amend section 1 (1) to include the following definitions:
"workplace harassment" means engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome;
"workplace violence" means,
(a) the exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker,
(b) an attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker,
(c) a statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.
The Bill will require employers with more than 5 employees to develop a program to implement a workplace harassment policy. The program must include measures for workers to report incidents of workplace harassment and set out how the employer will deal with incidents and complaints of workplace harassment.

12. HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Types of Harassment:
Sexual – “intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favours”.
Non-Sexual Bullying or verbal abuse
Unwarranted Discipline - where the employer's treatment of the employee makes continued employment intolerable

13. EMPLOYEE RIGHTS
Internal Complaint to Human Resources or management
Human Rights complaint under the Code
Stress Leave/Disability (if available)
Civil Action/Constructive Dismissal

14. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Employment Contracts
Policies (Harassment, Internet Use)
Training
Monitoring
Discipline

15. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Employment Contract and Policies
Outline what behaviour is not acceptable in the workplace
Set out the employer’s expectations regarding proper conduct in the workplace
Advise what range of disciplinary action will be taken should an employee be found to have breached the policy

16. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Investigation
Assess the complaint
Appoint an investigator
Conduct interviews
Make interim decisions on complainant/respondent
Process evidence and interview additional parties

17. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Discipline - breach of the policy constitutes cause for discipline, up to and including termination of employment

18. HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT
Usually arises after the Employer has either failed to respond to a complaint or has made a decision with which the Complainant disagrees
Under the current system an applicant may bring their complaint directly before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal
Within this system a complaint may be resolved by adjudication or mediation

19. DISABILITY BENEFITS
If the harassment results in severe mental distress it may result in a claim for short-term or long-term disability, if available
Workplace stress has rapidly becoming one of the most popular causes for employee absence and disability claims

20. CIVIL ACTION
Constructive Dismissal
Where the employer's treatment of the employee makes continued employment intolerable the employee may successfully argue that they were forced to resign and claim constructive dismissal.
See Shah v. Xerox (Ont. C.A.) to be discussed later

21. APPROPRIATE COMPUTER USAGE
Employer Policies are used to:
Define use of Information Technologies
Communications guidelines
To Support Discipline
To prevent breach of confidentiality

22. INAPPROPRIATE COMPUTER USAGE (OFFENSIVE DOWNLOADS AND E-MAILS)
Not a right but a privilege subject to limitations set by employer
Useful tool for work with potential for abuse
Policies required re: propriety
Effective balance of personal needs of employees and business interests
Minimizing abuses
Reducing inefficiencies
Maximizing beneficial uses of business tools
Eastern Ontario Catholic District School Board v. O.E.C.T.A

23. QUESTIONS?

24. Willson Lewis LLP Barristers and Solicitors
WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities
67 Mowat Avenue, Suite 346, Toronto, Ontario M6K 3E3, Tel: Fax: