Last Updated: August 22 2026
What are my rights and employer duties under Ontario employment law if I was fired or laid off?
In Ontario, your rights and an employer’s duties in a dismissal or layoff are mainly governed by the Employment Standards Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 41 and the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, plus common law rules about notice, termination, and workplace conduct; if you believe the reason for termination was unfair, discriminatory, or involved illegal pay, benefits, or accommodation decisions, Anderson Aylwin Begg & Co. can help you understand potential claims, gather documents, and prepare a paralegal-led response or next steps for your situation across Ontario including Oshawa, North York, Scarborough, Markham, and Courtice; call (905) 686-8080 to discuss your timelines and what evidence matters first.
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Understanding Rights and Duties Within Employment Relations
The various disputes and lawsuits that may arise from employment relationships are more and more frequent in the world today as long gone are the days of substantial loyalties between employer and employee whereas times have changed since days when a boss would be a dinner guest or a gold watch was given to a thirty (30) year employee.
Note: Please contact Anderson Aylwin Begg & Co. by phone at: (905) 686-8080 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.
What Is Employment Law
Employment law applies to employment relationships without unionization as opposed to circumstances where an employment relationship involves unionization as is subject to labour law.
Generally, principles within the employment law realm will favour and benefit an employee rather than employer. The laws general favouring of employees arises from the view that employees are more vulnerable throughout the employment relationship, including when seeking work, when negotiating raises, when subjected to discipline, and when terminated. Essentially, the law presumes that employers possess a greater level of legal sophistication, a stronger bargaining position, and a greater financial capacity to participate within legal disputes. Accordingly, the law provides various protections that attempt to balance the playing field to the benefit of employees.
Employment law involves both statute law, being the law established by government legislation as well as common law, being the law established by judicial precedent decisions. The laws applicable to an employment relationship are many and include, among others:
- The Employment Standards Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, Chapter 41;
- The Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19;
- The Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1;
- The Pay Equity Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.7;
- The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, Chapter 16, Schedule A; and
- The tens of thousands of previous case decisions that constitute as the common law.
Representation
Help may be available to either employers or employees on a variety of issues and arising from a broad spectrum of employment environments including industrial, construction, professional, administrative, health care, retail, among other sectors.
Learn More About Employment Law Assistance...
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NOTE: A significant quantity of online searches, such as “lawyers near me” or “best lawyer in,” typically indicates a pressing need for effective legal support rather than a specific job title. In Ontario, licensed paralegals are governed by the same Law Society as lawyers and are permitted to represent clients in particular litigation cases. Central to their function are advocacy, legal analysis, and procedural expertise. Anderson Aylwin Begg & Co. offers legal representation within its authorised parameters, focusing on strategic planning, evidence preparation, and compelling advocacy aimed at securing prompt and positive outcomes for clients.

