Employment Law encompasses all aspects of the employer/employee relationship, except those covered under a collective agreement. Activities such as hiring new employees, employment contracts, termination of employment, and a broad variety of other workplace-related issues all fall under the jurisdiction of Employment Law.

Many people are not aware that employment standards legislation is only part of the law governing employment contracts. Two equally important considerations are the terms of an employment contract itself (whether written or oral), and the body of common law that operates separately from the legislation, but in tandem with it. The combination of all of these elements will together define the rights and obligations on both sides of an employment contract. An employer/employee relationship can contain contractual terms which the parties themselves are not even aware of, as some terms are implied into the contract by law, even if they are not explicitly defined in the agreement.

The first step in understanding a particular employment relationship is to speak to a lawyer about the rights and obligations of both sides. The terms of an employment contract can be defined at the outset to protect a party from a protracted and expensive dispute later on. Contracts can be drafted to minimize the risk and expense that can follow later if the relationship ends. Employers can benefit by planning exit strategies early on, which can ease the risk and effort when employee requirements change. Employees can benefit from protecting their job security, in the face of a potential termination down the road.

Anyone who is about to enter an employment relationship, or an employee who has just been terminated, may find it helpful to discuss their situation with an experienced lawyer who can ensure that their best interests are represented. Both parties can benefit from advance planning, to anticipate and prevent problems before they arise.

Cardinal Law’s Employment Law practice includes:

• wrongful dismissal
• buy-outs
• employment contracts
• confidentiality agreements
• non-competition agreements