RavenLaw Honours the National Day of Mourning

Our law firm pauses today to recognize the National Day of Mourning, a day to honour those who have been killed, injured, or made ill as a result of their work. Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy workplace. One workplace death, injury, or illness is one too many. These extraordinary times remind us of the importance of a safe and healthy workplace. Sadly, many frontline workers... Read More

Unions and Coronavirus: Protecting Worker Rights in an Outbreak

Unions and coronavirus. Some may wonder what the connection could be between these two words. The connection is not so strange as you might think. Unions have worked for a century or more to improve terms and conditions of employment. That has included championing sick and disability leave benefits. When quarantine was a more common practice, unions negotiated pay maintenance provisions for people who were quarantined. Unions themselves are also... Read More

The Show Must Go On; Hearings Are No Different – Arbitrations in the Time of COVID-19

What do you do when your arbitration is coming up but no one can meet face to face? The answer, for a number of arbitrators, is that you find another way to hold the hearing. There are many reasons a party may not want to go ahead with a hearing.  In some cases, a party can ask to postpone the date. Examples include the illness of a representative or of... Read More

Continuing to Work for the Same Employer After Resigning from Employment

How is the employment start date affected when an employee resigns, but then continues working under a new employment agreement for the same employer? The Ontario Court of Appeal has recently released two decisions that discuss how an employee resigning and then continuing to work affects the start date of their employment. The decisions show that the specific facts of the resignation and re-hire will determine whether an individual will... Read More

LYME DISEASE DISABILITY CLAIMS

What is Lyme Disease? Lyme disease is an inflammatory and infectious disease spread to humans through tick bites. It is caused by borrelia bacteria, which commonly infects animals. Ticks pick up the bacteria by biting infected animals and then passing it on to other animals, including humans. The disease can develop within days, weeks, or even years after infection if left untreated or improperly treated. In more extreme scenarios, albeit... Read More

RavenLaw Supports Annual LEAF Persons Day Breakfast

RavenLaw was proud to again support the Annual Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) Ottawa Persons Day Breakfast, held on October 25, 2019. This year’s breakfast focused on women’s rights and climate change, and how to consider the impact of climate change on gender equality when finding ways to create a more sustainable future for all people. [caption id="attachment_3237" align="alignleft" width="300"] RavenLaw attendees (Anna Lichty, Megan Fultz, and Geoff... Read More

WHAT IS SHORT-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE?

Short term disability insurance pays you when you cannot work because of an injury or illness. Simply stated, you qualify for these benefits when a medical condition prevents you from doing your job. Your plan can probably cover the first months of absence due to sickness or injury. The length of the insurance varies from one policy to another. If you are ill or injured and cannot work, your short... Read More

When Does Long Term Disability Begin?

Long Term Disability (LTD) is intended to provide income replacement coverage if you are unable to work due to injury or illness. Long term disability benefits will normally commence once your short term disability benefits, if you have this coverage, have been exhausted. Most Long Term Disability policies contains a waiting period or elimination period, before you can start receiving payments. Once the elimination period passes, the insurance company has... Read More

Update on Limitation Periods in Long Term Disability Claims

Earlier this year, the Ontario Divisional Court issued a decision in Western Life Assurance Company v. Penttila, 2019 ONSC 14 (CanLII) addressing when the time limit for filing a claim, known as the limitation period, begins to run for individuals who were denied long-term disability (LTD) benefits. The Court determined that the limitation period starts once the individual receives a final decision from the insurance company. This is after all... Read More

Julia Williams Presented on Careers in Social Justice and Labour Law

On February 28, 2019, Julia Williams participated in a roundtable discussion at the University of Ottawa on careers in social justice and labour law. The roundtable was a Q&A with practitioners offering insight into paths to labour law, followed by a discussion on the challenges and rewards of pursuing a social justice career.  Julia would like to thank the Labour Law and Human Rights Association at the University of Ottawa,... Read More