On Friday, May 30, we hosted our latest session in the Legal update for Canadian employers series—our monthly forum for practical insights on emerging workplace issues. This session explored employment scenarios that appear straightforward but often involve hidden legal risks, drawing on recent developments and case law from across the country.

Here are the key takeaways that can directly impact your organization:

• Criminal charges and current employees – what’s your next move? Employers often feel stuck when an employee is charged with a crime unrelated to their job. This session clarified what legal action is permissible, how reputational risk plays into decision-making, and when off-duty misconduct could constitute just cause for dismissal. We also explored real case law examples to illustrate where courts draw the line.
• Terminating employees returning from medical leave – how to do it right. The recent Amies v. Lethbridge Family Services decision emphasized the importance of timing, documentation, and clear reasoning when terminating employees post-leave. We discussed how to minimize legal exposure by aligning termination decisions with performance and conduct while demonstrating compliance with human rights legislation.
• Hiring young workers or international students – what employers must know. Employers hiring summer students or new grads must navigate a patchwork of employment standards, health and safety rules, and immigration requirements. We covered provincial variations and the latest federal guidance on work permits, including allowable hours, on/off-campus restrictions, and eligibility criteria under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.

As always, we closed with a Q&A session, where our national Employment and Labour team provided practical, jurisdiction-specific guidance. Thanks to everyone who joined us! If you have questions about how these scenarios apply to your workplace, or if you’re facing a similar situation, our team is here to help.

Stay tuned for details on our next session, where we’ll continue to offer timely legal insights tailored to the realities of Canadian employers.

Download a copy of the presentation slides. 

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

Alberta Human Rights Commission found termination of employee upon their return from medical leave was not discriminatory - Dentons Canadian Employment & Labour Law

Moderator:

• Allison W. Buchanan, Counsel, Toronto

Speakers:

• Meaghen Russell, Partner, Toronto
• Denise Alba, Senior Associate, Vancouver
• Carly Kist, Associate, Calgary
• Jenny Xinyi Wang, Associate, Edmonton

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.