On Friday, April 25, we hosted our latest session in the Legal update for Canadian employers series. This session focused on hidden workforce risks – the employment relationships that can quietly create legal exposure if not proactively addressed. Our national Employment and Labour team explored overlooked employee categories and shared practical strategies for reducing risk and staying compliant.

Key takeaways for employers:

• Forgotten employees: Employees on extended leave, casual staff who stop taking shifts, and remote workers with little oversight can all carry unexpected liabilities. We outlined legal risks and provided actionable steps to stay ahead of compliance obligations.
• Inherited employees in M&A: When companies acquire employees through transactions, unclear employment histories and missing contracts can result in costly disputes. We discussed how to identify and address these gaps early.
• Hiring decisions under scrutiny: We examined best practices to reduce bias, document decisions, and prevent discrimination claims in the hiring process, drawing from recent case law across Canada.
• Pension plan compliance: We provided an overview of the BC Financial Services Authority’s new Information Security Guideline for pension plan administrators, and what it means alongside upcoming CAPSA Guidelines 3 and 10. These updates are critical for plan sponsors to implement by early 2026.

Download a copy of the presentation slides.

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For further resources on the topics discussed, please see below:

• CAPSA Guideline No. 10: New risk management guideline for plan administrators
• Capital Accumulation Plan sponsors: RRSP, TFSA and DPSP providers, it’s time to get your ducks in a row

Moderator:

• Adrian Miedema, Partner, Toronto

Speakers:

• Colleen Hoey, Counsel, Ottawa
• Stephanie V. Lewis, Counsel, Ottawa
• Barbara Walancik-Hatch, Counsel, Toronto

Accreditation

LSBC: This session is registered for 60 Substantive minutes with the Law Society of British Columbia.
LSO: This program is eligible for up to 60 Substantive minutes with the Law Society of Ontario.
Barreau du Québec: In our view, this session would meet the CLE requirements of the Barreau du Québec. Please email Annie Girard to receive a confirmation of attendance.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact dentonscanada.events@dentons.com.