Workplace changes kept employers and workers on their toes

New legislation and court judgments had an impact on employers and workers alike during 2021. The lawyers at Rudner Law provided timely commentary with each new change. 

Founder and managing partner Stuart Rudner reflected on 2020 and looked at the challenges that lay ahead in the coming year in his January post. A challenging road lies ahead after a year dominated by the pandemic

In February, he examined the issue of terminating an employee without taking the proper steps. Do your homework before firing an insubordinate worker

Rudner Law partner Brittany Taylor commented on judgments that affect notice periods during the pandemic in March. COVID just one factor to consider when assessing notice periods

Advice on workplace COVID vaccination clinics

In May, Rudner Law associate Nadia Zaman had advice for employers looking to host workplace COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Hosting a workplace vaccination clinic? Think it through

Also in May, Rudner told LegalMattersCanada.ca success in his field requires the ability “to go with the flow and adapt,” tailoring the mediation approach to suit each situation. Finding right approach is key in alternative dispute resolution

Taylor said in her June post that working remotely brings challenges that if not managed correctly could lead to employee burnout and have financial and legal consequences for employers. Employers need to lead when dealing with remote work issues

In July, Zaman explained proposed right to disconnect legislation also requires a “shift in mindset and workplace cultures” to be effective. Workplace culture an important part of right to disconnect legislation

Determining the strength of a case is vital

Litigation risk analysis is an essential part of any dispute and a thorough examination of the facts is crucial when determining the strength of a case, Rudner said in August. Litigation risk analysis important in assessing success of a case

In September, Rudner explained that failing to conduct an investigation into allegations of harassment can not only result in litigation but could harm a company’s image and its ability to retain valuable employees. Take right steps when conducting workplace harassment probes

Parties should objectively assess the evidence and also the potential costs and benefits of pursuing a wrongful dismissal case, Rudner advised in October. Litigating wrongful dismissal claims not for ‘the faint of heart’

In November, Taylor discussed the provincial government’s proposed Working for Workers Act, 2021, which she noted offers two key provisions which should be beneficial to both employers and employees. Proposed legislation has something for employers and workers

In December Zaman took a look back at a year that brought new changes and challenges. “There was a great deal to take in during 2021. It was an upgraded version of the previous year with COVID-19 continuing to hang over people’s lives. Still, it was better than the doom and gloom of 2020.” Reason for optimism as employment world heads into a new year