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Practice areas: Overview·Employment law·Immigration & migration·International law·Technology & AI

EMPLOYMENT LAW · FOR EMPLOYEES

Employment Law for Employees in Ottawa

A workplace problem can require you to make an important decision quickly: whether to sign a severance offer, accept a change to your role, respond to an allegation, or challenge treatment that appears unfair or unlawful. Chressa Law helps employees understand the legal position before taking the next step.

Employment disputes often involve significant financial stakes and hard deadlines. Acting promptly, with proper legal advice, is the most important thing you can do to protect your position.

How we help employees

We review the relevant documents and history, identify the issues that matter, and provide a practical assessment of the available options. Where further representation is appropriate, we can advise on strategy, negotiations, or the next legal step.

Termination and wrongful dismissal

A termination is not necessarily wrongful because the employer ended the relationship. The central questions often concern the notice, pay, benefits, and other compensation provided, as well as whether the employment agreement limits the employee’s entitlements.

  • Reviewing termination letters and severance offers
  • Assessing termination clauses
  • Statutory and common-law notice issues
  • Compensation, benefits, bonuses and incentive plans
  • Just-cause allegations and termination for cause

Severance review and negotiation

A release generally gives up legal claims in exchange for the offered package. Before signing, an employee should understand the value of the offer, the rights being released, any continuing obligations, and whether negotiation is warranted.

  • Comparing the offer with potential entitlements
  • Reviewing releases and acceptance deadlines
  • Assessing mitigation and new-employment issues
  • Negotiating compensation and non-monetary terms

Constructive dismissal and significant workplace changes

A substantial unilateral change to an essential term of employment may, in some circumstances, amount to constructive dismissal. The analysis is fact-specific, and resigning before obtaining advice can materially affect the employee’s position.

  • Reduction in compensation or responsibilities
  • Demotion or significant change in duties
  • Relocation or material schedule changes
  • Suspension, layoff, or a poisoned work environment

Contracts, performance management and workplace disputes

We advise employees who are asked to sign a new agreement, placed on a performance improvement plan, subjected to discipline, or required to respond to a workplace allegation.

  • Employment agreements and amendments
  • Restrictive covenants and confidentiality
  • Performance improvement plans and discipline
  • Workplace investigations and responses to complaints

Human rights, accommodation and reprisal

Ontario employees are protected from discrimination in employment on prohibited grounds. Employers also have procedural and substantive accommodation duties to the point of undue hardship. We advise on the legal framework, the available evidence, and appropriate routes for raising or responding to a concern.

Employment across borders

Employment involving a foreign or multinational employer may raise questions about applicable law, forum clauses, payroll, mobility, and the employee’s immigration status. We assess the Ontario employment-law issues and identify when coordinated advice in another jurisdiction is required.

Facing a decision about your work?

Send a brief description of what happened, the date of any deadline, and the documents you received. Do not send confidential information belonging to your employer unless you are entitled to possess and share it.

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