Overview
Miller Thomson’s Labour Relations and Employment Group provides private and public sector employers with practical and strategic support, advice and guidance to assist senior management in making sound decisions consistent with applicable federal and provincial labour relations and employment law and best practices. Our expertise includes traditional labour and employment law services, plus specialized advice in many areas, including human rights, occupational health and safety (including workplace harassment), pay equity, accessibility, workers’ compensation and pension and benefits.
Our Group assists employers in anticipating and preparing for opportunities and challenges as the workplace and the legal landscape evolve. We provide the strategic planning, advice and day-to-day legal assistance that is necessary to address the wide range of challenges and initiatives that involve labour relations and employment issues. With our in-depth expertise, we are able to anticipate potential problems, suggest proactive approaches and recognize the immediate and long-term impact of available solutions.
Some of the areas in which we can provide guidance include:
General (applicable to union and non-union employees)
- Recruiting and hiring practices and policies
- Employee handbooks
- Compliance with employment and labour standards legislation
- Discipline and termination of employment
- Human rights advice, training and litigation
- Workplace harassment and occupational health and safety matters
- Attendance and disability management and return to work plans
- Policy development and implementation
- Specialized advice on labour and employment implications relating to corporate restructuring, outsourcing, corporate integration, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships
- Compliance with privacy legislation
- Compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Non-Union and Executive Employment
- Employment contracts, severance packages and wrongful dismissal litigation;
- Structuring alternative compensation
Labour Relations
- Union free strategies
- Responding to union organizing
- Certification applications
- Unfair labour practice applications
- Collective bargaining
- Picket line management and injunction applications
- Collective agreement interpretation
- Grievance and interest arbitrations
- Public sector restructuring governed by the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act
