The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 took so many of us by surprise, but in workplaces across the country, it was as though a switch had flipped. Aside from those deemed essential workers, the rest of us were suddenly transported to working from home practically overnight. For many employers, this presented a logistical nightmare. Companies that had completely eschewed remote work previously and would never think to allow employees to work from home except in extreme circumstances were now faced with working from home becoming the new normal. Almost five years later, we...

You had to let Pam go last Fall. Her performance had been slipping, and you had continually tried to coach her, but you could tell that she had just lost interest in the role. Her lack of focus meant that things weren’t getting done, and she was not coachable. You presented what you thought was a reasonable package. Pam was quiet in the termination meeting, but days later, you received a letter from her lawyer demanding significantly more money. You turned it over to your lawyer and helped them prepare your response. Her allegations that you had not supported her at work were...

Employment law changed in fundamental ways in 2024, and you may not even have noticed. The fundamental principles of employment law rarely seem to change much. Employers are responsible for keeping employees safe, and for treating them fairly. If you fire an employee without notice, you’ll likely owe them money. Discrimination at work is illegal and may lead to an issue with the human rights tribunal. Employers may not understand every nuance, but they generally have a good idea of how things work. The basic principles may stay consistent, but the fine details change regularly, and...

Let’s start with an example. Suppose Mrs. Johnson next door hires you to help her paint her fence. She asks if you are available, you tell her a quote and how long you think it will take, and she agrees. You purchase the paint, the brushes, the drop cloths, and everything else that you’ll need. She doesn’t mind when you come to work, so long as the job gets done. Moreover, Mrs. Johnson does not really care how you do the job. If you want to buy an expensive piece of machinery to get the work done quickly? You can do that! If you want to subcontract 3 buddies to make the work go...