Does anyone have recommendations? I am just getting prepared.
10 replies (most recent on top)
Lior Samfiru in Toronto
I don't agree you don't need employment lawyer. Most offer 1 hr consultation for a fee. They are only looking over offer. Well worth it, i say.
Don't waste your time and money on a lawyer. Employees will be compensated poorly and unfairly and the company won't give.
Any in the firms in the Edmonton, St Albert, Sherwood Park and Beaumont Area?
Guys, names and personal info not allowed here, advertising as well. Think that includes lawyer's names as well, so I assume those names and addresses will soon be deleted by site admins. If you really want to help, maybe leave just link or some other reference that won't be deleted. Just sayin'
Depending on your age and how long you've been employed, companies like this use mergers to shed older employees to get out of retirement packages and long term obligations. If you are being let go and your job is being filled by a younger individual you may have a human rights complaint. Do your research, keep tabs and DOCUMENTATION on your former position and follow to see how it is filled and by whom. Keep in touch through email with your old colleagues who remain at the company. Be prepared for the company to say that they did away with your position in the merger and that it was not filled - their most common and predictable response according to information readily available on the internet. As an aged employee, the company has an obligation to accommodate you otherwise they could be discriminating against you on the grounds of age.
Since this is a federally regulated employer, you have 1 year from the time of your termination to file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Definitely seek a lawyer who specializes in Human Rights if you feel you have been targeted.
The Canadian Human Rights Commission has VERY broad powers, much like Labor Canada that is mentioned in another post on this thread, and much more power than civil courts.
There are a number of reasons companies like this have a wall of lawyers surrounding them - they view their COBE nothing more than a PR document and the further up the management structure you go - the more disdain they have for employees in the trenches. Now you know why you never get invited to the executive Christmas party and why they never attend yours. The article below will give you some insight into how large employers in Canada think.
http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/5797/Why-RBC-doesnt-rush-to-settle-dismissal-cases.html
http://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/eng
How about lawyers in Calgary? Any recommendations?
Natalie MacDonald. Toronto. Not cheap, but the best in Canada.
Thank you this is really helpful.
Canada Labor complaints have to be filed within 90 days for federally regulated employees so don't miss it. Canada Labor has broader powers than the courts.
I urge employees and contractors and especially long term contractors and employees turned contractors to educate themselves on their rights. Do not accept any package without consulting an attorney first. All the executives have their personal attorneys review and negotiate their packages so don't think you cannot. I would search the Federal and Provincial Court registries for Enbridge, Spectra, Westcoast etc to see if there is any current actions involving them. If you belong to a group that is experiencing the same adverse action, you may have a class.
http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.gc.ca/IndexingQueries/infp_queries_e.php
You can also contact the federal court by phone and get copies of everything that is on the public record for FREE.
http://www.cas-satj.gc.ca/en/operations/numbers.shtml
Contact Andrew Raven at Raven Law or Yavar Hameed at Hameed Law in Ottawa. They will point you in the right direction depending on which province you live in. Their firm's attorneys have an extensive catalog of successful case law on CanLii.org as representing plaintiffs.
And remember the deadline to file a complaint with Labor Canada is 90 days for federally regulated employees.