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

Can I be laid off because of the Coronavirus pandemic?

With the COVID-19 outbreak, circumstances are changing by the hour. These are unsettling times and there is uncertainty for employees, employers and unions alike. What is important is that all have to be committed to the health, safety, and well-being of both workers and management. Many workplaces are issuing a work from home policy to avoid the spread of COVID-19. You may be able to continue to perform work through... Read More

Can an employee refuse to work because they are afraid of contracting COVID-19 in the workplace?

Employees have the right to work in a healthy and safe workplace and, as such, employers have the obligation to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of employees.  If an employee has reason to believe that there is a dangerous condition in the workplace or that their duties are likely to present a danger to their health and safety or the health and safety of their... 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

RavenLaw Supports the 20th Annual GCTC Lawyer Play Fundraiser

RavenLaw is proud to sponsor the 20th Annual County of Carleton Law Association/Great Canadian Theatre Company Lawyer Play. The annual fundraiser supports the operations of Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) and benefits a charity partner, which this year was St. Mary’s Home, an Ottawa-based social service agency that provides a full range of programs and services for young pregnant women, young moms and dads, and their infants and young children.... Read More

Ottawa Citizen Interviews Andrew Raven on International Women’s Day

As part of its coverage on International Women’s Day, the Ottawa Citizen interviewed Andrew Raven to discuss the 20th anniversary of the Federal Public Service Pay Equity settlement. Andrew had represented the Public Service Alliance of Canada in this historic pay equity complaint, which sought to address systemic gender-based wage discrimination across the federal public service. The final settlement, valued at $3.6 billion, affected over 200,000 federal government employees and... Read More

Anna Lichty Appointed to the Board of Directors for the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa

RavenLaw is pleased to announce that Anna Lichty has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa. The Kiwanis Club of Ottawa is a not-for-profit organization and registered charity with members who effect positive change within the Ottawa community by volunteering their time and raising funds for programs that promote youth literacy and leadership, help individuals with special needs and assist those struggling in the... Read More

Successive Periods of Total Disability

Attempting to return to work after receiving long-term disability insurance benefits can seem daunting. Many questions arise, but one we often hear is “what happens if I fail or get sick again?”  The short answer is that it depends on the amount of time that has passed since you returned work. You may start receiving long-term disability benefits again without having to wait.  Or in other words, without having to... Read More