No Free Work

RavenLaw supports liveable wages for all employees, including articling students. As employees, articling students are entitled to compensation for the valuable work they perform in law firms, organizations, and public employers across Ontario. We have written to the LSO Benchers to express our firm’s position that articling students should be provided with a liveable wage for their work and, in the alternative, no less than the bare minimum pay outlined... Read More

Raphaëlle Laframboise-Carignan to Present on Accommodation and Disability Benefits

On March 22, 2022, Raphaëlle Laframboise-Carignan will present as part of a speakers’ night series being held by Mood Disorders Ottawa. Raphaëlle will be discussing workplace accommodations, long-term disability (LTD) benefits, and other disability benefits available when a person cannot work due to injury or illness. For more information on this upcoming presentation, please visit the event website. Read More

RavenLaw Attends UOttawa Career Connections Events

During the week of March 14, 2022, RavenLaw represented the firm at the 2022 uOttawa Career Connections event, held virtually. Morgan Rowe, Zachary Rodgers, Claire Michela, and Simcha Walfish participated in panels, roundtables, and meet and greet events with law students and particularly spoke about their work representing unions and employees. Thank you to the organizers for putting on this great event, and thank you to the uOttawa students for your engagement and enthusiasm!... Read More

Raphaelle Laframboise-Carignan Presents on COVID-19 Employment Law and Policies

On December 21, 2021, Raphaëlle Laframboise-Carignan presented to l’Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario (AJEFO) on employment laws and policies related to COVID-19. Raphaëlle discussed the effects of these types of policies on the workplace, accommodation issues, exemption requests, and the potential consequences where employees do not comply with COVID-19 policies. Read More

Manitoba Employment Standards Code – What You Need to Know

By Dayna Steinfeld In Manitoba, The Employment Standards Code (“ESC”) establishes basic and minimum rights and standards for provincial employees. Where the ESC applies to a worker’s job, these rights and standards are mandatory. This kind of legislation is not unique to Manitoba. Employment standards statutes are found in every province and in the federal jurisdiction, and there are many general similarities between the Manitoba ESC and legislation in other... Read More

Is My Termination Clause Invalid? Conflicting Case Law In The Ontario Courts

Recent decisions in the Ontario courts have created uncertainty for Ontario workers as to whether the termination clauses in their contracts are valid or not. Many employment contracts contain a sentence that reads something like this: c) Termination by the Company for Just Cause – The Company has the right, at any time and without notice, to terminate your employment under this Agreement for just cause. Under this provision, if... Read More

Ontario Announces Legislation for More Workplace Policies

Wassim Garzouzi speaks to Ottawa Morning with Robyn Bresnahan on the Ontario Government’s proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act, specifically as they relate to the right to disconnect. [audio mp3="https://ravenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/raven-law-mp3.mp3"][/audio] Read More

Ontario Government Proposes to Ban Noncompete Clauses

Wassim Garzouzi was interviewed by the Toronto Star on the Ontario Government’s proposed ban on noncompete clauses in employment contracts. Check out what he said here! Read More

Courts differ on whether to deduct CERB benefits from wrongful dismissal damages

By Raven Law [The firm gratefully recognizes the contribution of this post by articling student Anna Rotman] The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was introduced in part to support individuals who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Millions of workers across Canada who were out of work at some point during the pandemic have received CERB payments. Some of those workers may have made claims of wrongful dismissal against... Read More

Federal Court Rejects Anti-Abortion Challenge to Government Funding Restrictions

On October 22, 2021, the Federal Court dismissed an application by the Right to Life Association of Toronto and Area (TRTL), which sought to challenge the Federal Government’s decision to deny it funding for the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs program because its president refused to sign an attestation that the job and the organization’s mandate respected human rights, including reproductive rights. (more…) Read More