Danielle Lemieux

My Recent Work

Global News •

5 things employees should never do before talking to an employment lawyer

I receive hundreds of legal questions a week from Canadians experiencing stressful issues with their job or at various stages in the termination process.

Often, I’m able to help because they’ve come to the right place: an employment lawyer. Here are the top five things an employee should never do before speaking to an employment lawyer about their situation.

The most expensive mistake an employee can make is signing and returning a severance offer to their employer before it is reviewed by an
Global News •

Can you get compensation if you face harassment at work?

Last month a U.S. federal court ordered Tesla to pay $137 million dollars to a former employee who was subjected to name-calling and racist abuse. Owen Diaz, 53, worked as an elevator operator for the company for nearly 10 months, but left the position voluntarily in 2016 after coworkers left racist graffiti and derogatory cartoons around the facility, and used racial slurs.

The decision confirms that Tesla violated Diaz’s right to a safe and healthy workplace. The automaker did not seriously c
Global News •

The most common myths about severance pay, according to an employment lawyer

Nobody wants to lose their job and the financial stability it brings. But most people who are fired or let go have the right to a severance package, which provides compensation until you find a new job.

In my practice as an employment lawyer, I hear a lot of myths about severance. Often they’re spread by people who don’t understand the law or employers who may not realize their legal obligations during the termination process.

Here are the facts behind some of the most common and pervasive sev
Global News •

5 things you should know about mandatory vaccination policies at work

Since the end of summer, my employment law firm has been inundated with thousands of questions about COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace from unionized and non-unionized workers alike. From what people have told us, the driving force behind these queries is the mandatory vaccination policies that countless employers have put in place, with deadlines for compliance coming into effect this fall.

Many companies are requiring employees to either fully vaccinate or submit to routine testing. Othe
Global News •

Can non-unionized employees be fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine?

Over the past few weeks, dozens of companies and organizations have announced mandatory vaccine policies for their employees.

Some of these businesses, like Air Canada, are in industries that must follow a government order to require that employees be vaccinated. Others, like Toronto hospital group University Health Network (UHN), are not covered by that order, but have still announced plans to fire employees who do not get vaccinated.

Without a mandate from either the provincial or federal go
Global News •

5 things every employee should know about long-term disability and how to get benefits

Many employees aren’t aware that they have long-term disability (LTD) insurance coverage as a part of their group benefits plan through their employer.

Whether you recently began suffering from a medical condition that has prevented you from working, or are just curious about what it covers, it’s important to ask your employer if you have short- or long-term disability coverage as a part of the company’s benefits package. This disability coverage can provide you with financial support if your h
Global News •

‘More legal rights than they realize’: What to know if your field is federally regulated

As an employment lawyer, I get a lot of questions from individuals working for banks, airlines, telecommunications companies, broadcasters and other non-unionized, federally regulated businesses in Canada. Often, they’re facing complications with their job and want to know more about their options.

Unlike employees in other fields, workers in these industries are governed by the federal Canada Labour Code (CLC). But employees under the CLC still have the same (and in some cases, better) protect
Global News •

Can you be fired for taking mat leave? 5 of the most common questions from new parents

Employment laws in Canada allow new parents to take significant time off work through parental and maternity leave.

Unfortunately, employers and employees alike aren’t always aware of the rules around maternity leave. In my practice as an employment lawyer, I often get questions from people who are worried about keeping their jobs and being able to provide for their families because they need to take time off following the arrival of a newborn.

I tell clients they absolutely should not have to
Global News •

Returning to the office after working remotely? Here are 5 things you should know

At the outset of the pandemic, many Canadians shifted to remote work. Now, with more than 59% of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the federal government, employees across the country are entertaining the idea of making a physical return to the workplace.

As an employment lawyer, I’ve gotten lots of questions from people wondering about their employment rights if they’re called back to work.

Here are five things employees should know about returning to an
Global News •

The top 5 termination myths — and what you need to know about being fired from a job

Every year, millions of Canadians lose their jobs — and often, they also lose out on the severance pay they’re rightfully owed.

In my experience as an employment lawyer, this is because many aspects of employment law are not well known and frequently misunderstood.

Here are five myths about terminations that many people believe and the facts behind them.

Myth: Your boss can only let you go if they have a good reason to

Fact: Your employer can fire you for any reason and at any time, so long
Global News •

5 things employees should never do before talking to an employment lawyer

I receive hundreds of legal questions a week from Canadians experiencing stressful issues with their job or at various stages in the termination process.

Often, I’m able to help because they’ve come to the right place: an employment lawyer. Here are the top five things an employee should never do before speaking to an employment lawyer about their situation.

The most expensive mistake an employee can make is signing and returning a severance offer to their employer before it is reviewed by an
Global News •

The most common myths about severance pay, according to an employment lawyer

Nobody wants to lose their job and the financial stability it brings. But most people who are fired or let go have the right to a severance package, which provides compensation until you find a new job.

In my practice as an employment lawyer, I hear a lot of myths about severance. Often they’re spread by people who don’t understand the law or employers who may not realize their legal obligations during the termination process.

Here are the facts behind some of the most common and pervasive sev
Global News •

5 things every employee should know about long-term disability and how to get benefits

Many employees aren’t aware that they have long-term disability (LTD) insurance coverage as a part of their group benefits plan through their employer.

Whether you recently began suffering from a medical condition that has prevented you from working, or are just curious about what it covers, it’s important to ask your employer if you have short- or long-term disability coverage as a part of the company’s benefits package. This disability coverage can provide you with financial support if your h
Global News •

‘More legal rights than they realize’: What to know if your field is federally regulated

As an employment lawyer, I get a lot of questions from individuals working for banks, airlines, telecommunications companies, broadcasters and other non-unionized, federally regulated businesses in Canada. Often, they’re facing complications with their job and want to know more about their options.

Unlike employees in other fields, workers in these industries are governed by the federal Canada Labour Code (CLC). But employees under the CLC still have the same (and in some cases, better) protect
Global News •

Returning to the office after working remotely? Here are 5 things you should know

At the outset of the pandemic, many Canadians shifted to remote work. Now, with more than 59% of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the federal government, employees across the country are entertaining the idea of making a physical return to the workplace.

As an employment lawyer, I’ve gotten lots of questions from people wondering about their employment rights if they’re called back to work.

Here are five things employees should know about returning to an
Global News •

Can you be fired for taking mat leave? 5 of the most common questions from new parents

Employment laws in Canada allow new parents to take significant time off work through parental and maternity leave.

Unfortunately, employers and employees alike aren’t always aware of the rules around maternity leave. In my practice as an employment lawyer, I often get questions from people who are worried about keeping their jobs and being able to provide for their families because they need to take time off following the arrival of a newborn.

I tell clients they absolutely should not have to
Global News •

The top 5 termination myths — and what you need to know about being fired from a job

Every year, millions of Canadians lose their jobs — and often, they also lose out on the severance pay they’re rightfully owed.

In my experience as an employment lawyer, this is because many aspects of employment law are not well known and frequently misunderstood.

Here are five myths about terminations that many people believe and the facts behind them.

Myth: Your boss can only let you go if they have a good reason to

Fact: Your employer can fire you for any reason and at any time, so long
Global News •

Can you get compensation if you face harassment at work?

Last month a U.S. federal court ordered Tesla to pay $137 million dollars to a former employee who was subjected to name-calling and racist abuse. Owen Diaz, 53, worked as an elevator operator for the company for nearly 10 months, but left the position voluntarily in 2016 after coworkers left racist graffiti and derogatory cartoons around the facility, and used racial slurs.

The decision confirms that Tesla violated Diaz’s right to a safe and healthy workplace. The automaker did not seriously c
Global News •

Can non-unionized employees be fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine?

Over the past few weeks, dozens of companies and organizations have announced mandatory vaccine policies for their employees.

Some of these businesses, like Air Canada, are in industries that must follow a government order to require that employees be vaccinated. Others, like Toronto hospital group University Health Network (UHN), are not covered by that order, but have still announced plans to fire employees who do not get vaccinated.

Without a mandate from either the provincial or federal go
Global News •

Can you still get EI if you’re fired for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough has said that employees who are fired because they refuse to get vaccinated will likely not be eligible for employment insurance (E.I.). In an interview with The West Block, the minister told Global News that those who don’t comply with an employer’s clearly defined vaccination requirement could be dismissed for not meeting the company’s condition of employment.

Qualtrough is correct that a person can’t access E.I. if they are terminated for cause. But in my
Global News •

5 things you should know about mandatory vaccination policies at work

Since the end of summer, my employment law firm has been inundated with thousands of questions about COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace from unionized and non-unionized workers alike. From what people have told us, the driving force behind these queries is the mandatory vaccination policies that countless employers have put in place, with deadlines for compliance coming into effect this fall.

Many companies are requiring employees to either fully vaccinate or submit to routine testing. Othe