Fire Away

Nadia talks about using technology to conduct virtual dismissals - like using Zoom to fire a worker who is remote, hybrid, or even on leave.

Stuart and the Rudner Law Team join together for a look at popular Christmas movies and how some of them are HR nightmares.

Remember that episode of Friends where Ross tries to move a couch up the stairs, and ends up screaming "pivot, pivot, pivot!" at Chandler and Rachel? That's become a frequently quoted scene. The HR world has become a big supporter of pivoting, and in this video, Nadia talks about how employers can pivot through changes, like the pandemic, without risking constructive dismissal claims.

Stuart Rudner and Brittany Taylor join forces to bring you an employment law legislative update. From Bill 27 to Bill 88 and beyond, this is what employers and employees need to be mindful of now and in the coming months.

Stuart has heard people say they'd rather bankrupt a company than pay a plaintiff the severance they're seeking - but he usually takes this with a big grain of salt. However, in one Alberta case, this is exactly what the company tried to do.

Whether you’re an employee or an employer, you’ve probably encountered an accommodation situation. Perhaps as an employee, you need some form of accommodation but are unsure as to how to proceed. In this video, Nadia outlines the concept of “duty to accommodate” and talks about an employee’s responsibilities under this duty. 

If you’re a remote worker, is it okay to lie to your employer about being at home when you’re really working from an exotic location? It might sound pretty harmless, especially if you get your work done. But Stuart has some concerns that you should be aware of before you make a big move.

Stuart Rudner with an employment law update of a different kind. He's here with his top tips for winning at mediation - a growing part of his practice. Watch Fire Away Season 2 Episode 1, Employment Mediation Tips & Strategies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU9zuMA2fic https://www.rudnerlaw.ca/alternative-dispute-resolution/

Did Bell Media handle the termination of Lisa LaFlamme correctly? In this episode of Fire Away, Stuart is joined by Eric Yaverbaum, CEO of Ericho Communications, for a discussion on handling terminations, especially when they're high profile, and how not to fire an employee.

What is it costing you not to listen? We’re joined by Christine Miles, CEO and founder of EQuipt, for a discussion on workplace communication and connection.

We all know there is a duty on the part of an employer to act in good faith in the course of a dismissal. In this video update, Stuart talks about what happens when an employer is found to have acted in bad faith.

Workplace investigations have taken on tremendous importance in the world of HR. Failing to investigate, or failing to investigate properly, can result in significant liability. Nadia explains how and when to conduct them, as well as some best practices for employers.

How do you define success? Brittany Taylor and Nadia Zaman chat about Nadia's LinkedIn newsletter, Secret Sauce for Success, and what she has learned about success and inspiration from the project. 

Stuart is joined by Jennifer Bloch, a certified leadership and executive coach, for a discussion on mastering difficult conversations and becoming conflict-confident. Jennifer is the Principal, and Founder of Touchpoint Leadership Coaching. She has spent over twenty years coaching leaders across multiple sectors, from Consumer Packaged Goods to Palliative Care. Her perspective is broad and unique...

Stuart is joined by Lorin MacDonald, human rights lawyer and disability advocate, for a conversation about accommodation and inclusion. For decades, human rights lawyer Lorin MacDonald has demonstrated leadership, passion, and commitment to accessibility and inclusion in her volunteer and professional activities, all informed by her lived experience as a woman born with profound hearing loss. Reco...

Stuart Rudner and the Rudner Law Team look at some examples of workplace don'ts that you may recognize from pop culture and TV.

Stuart is joined by Brittany Taylor for a discussion on the Will Smith/Chris Rock incident at this year's Oscars Awards and the lessons about workplace violence it brought up.

In this update, Nadia Zaman talks about Right to Disconnect policies, which were introduced in the Working for Workers Act 2021, or Bill 27, and what this means for employers and employees.

Brittany Taylor is joined by Heather Skoll of Lifenotes Wisdom Inc. for a discussion on workplace wellness when that workplace is your home! Remote work can take its toll, and Heather comes well equipped to advise us on reducing strain, relieving stress and tension, while increasing productivity.   Circuit Break free guide https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62243ad3e4da3a4464c2fef6

We're putting Cupid on trial in our post-Valentine's Day Fire Away show. Is workplace romance possible these days? Could you stop it if you tried? Stuart is joined by Jennifer Ansell and Eric Prydatok to discuss. What do you think?

Stuart is joined by John Curtis and Larissa Donovan. John is a lawyer, mediator, investigator, and former Olympic athlete in the sport of sailing whose practice is focused on resolving workplace conflict. Larissa is an articling student currently working with John; she is a Board Member of the Dandelion Initiative, which focuses on survivors of sexual violence. This episode looks at the Kyle Beach...

Would you buy a car and then try to negotiate the price later? That is effectively what you're doing when you sign a severance package and then try to go back later on and get more money. And for whatever reason, we've seen an increase in the number of calls we're getting from people that have already signed their severance package and now want to meet with us and have us assess it.

Stuart Rudner, Brittany Taylor, and Nadia Zaman review the past year and look ahead at the employment law issues to come in 2022.

Brittany is joined by Jacqueline Bart and Serge Boudreau to discuss the implications of having employees working outside of Ontario or outside of Canada.

Stuart is joined by Les Freeman, an associate at Creative Planning Financial Group, and together they look at employee benefit and insurance plans to discuss the potential liabilities that employers may not be thinking about.