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February 23, 2016

Unjust Dismissal – Federally regulated Employees

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The Canada Labour Code Federally regulated employees are subject to the provisions of the Canada Labour Code (the “Code”). Section...

November 15, 2015

Transgender and the Workplace

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A growing number of private sector employers are now starting to include gender identity and expression in their non-discrimination...

July 13, 2015

Heather Hettiarachchi Interviewed by The Province about Bullying and Harassment

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Heather Hettiarachchi Interviewed by The Province about Bullying and Harassment.

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October 4, 2014

The Disengaged Employee

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According to the 2014 Global Workforce Study conducted by Towers Watson, which covers responses from over 32,000 employees across a...

May 27, 2013

Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada

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On May 21, 2013, the Federal Court of Canada dismissed a challenge brought by two unions in respect of the hiring...

May 14, 2013

Collective Bargaining Rights – DOXA documentary Film Festival

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I was a panelist at this year’s DOXA Documentary Film Festival and spoke at the screening of “We Are Wisconsin“, on May 8th. My...

August 23, 2012

Working Notice

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In Canada, in the absence of just cause, an employer must give an employee notice or payment in lieu...

August 14, 2012

Effective Performance Reviews

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Many organizations conduct performance reviews. Typically, the reviews are completed by an employee’s immediate supervisor with little or no input from the...

Client Reviews

As the CEO of a two different organizations, I have had the pleasure of reaching out to Heather for assistance in multiple areas. Labour Law, documentation, process advise. I have found Heather to be very responsive to her clients, curious and a good listener to understand the details and context as well as clear and concise in her direction and advise. I would recommend Heather to anyone looking for HR Legal support.

I just wanted to thank you Heather for the tremendous assistance you have been through a variety of business work place initiatives that required skilled legal assistance. From internal staff contracts, to labour relations initiatives, and legal business operation manual reviews you have been an exceptional assistance to our company! Can’t thank you enough.

Sincerely;

Tom Watson
Owner/President
Recreation Excellence

I thoroughly enjoy the workshops that Heather facilitates. The workshops are full of case studies, interactive discussions, questions, and learning from experience. There is a great balance between theory and practice and the concepts are clearly and professionally explained. Heather is an expert in the work that she does and her passion in delivering workshops is evident. I highly recommend Heather to others!

After participating in Heather's Employee Investigation Course it gave me some great insight into what needs to be done to protect both the company and how to properly deal with complaints or concerns brought forth regarding other staff and what steps to take to properly investigate. As well as how important a proper investigation really is. I feel more prepared in dealing with future situations.

Heather Hettiarachchi led a full-day workshop called ‘Conducting Workplace Investigations’ for our Human Resources team. It was an extremely informative and thorough workshop. Heather is an expert in this field and generously shared her knowledge with us. We gained tools and explored methods to help us conduct proper investigations. I recommend Heather without reservation!

Heather Hettiarachchi provided our team a workshop on legalities related to keeping and maintaining client records in an educational setting. Heather is a very knowledgeable and engaging presenter and the time we had with her flew by quickly. She prepared for the workshop in a thoughtful manner, asked us about our expectations well in advance and responded to our e-mails and calls in a timely fashion. There was time at the end of the presentation to ask questions which Heather answered in a thorough manner, reflective of her understanding of the topic at hand.

I warmly recommend Heather as a presenter!

I have had to turn to Heather on several occasions in the past 4-5 years in dealing with employment matters in terms of reviewing employment contracts. I have never been disappointed. Heather is thoughtful, practical, expedient and above all highly knowledgeable on employment law and precedents. Heather will ensure that nebulous items are pointed out and then follow-up to make certain the issues are properly understood. I would not hesitate to recommend Heather for employment law matters and continue to pass onto my colleagues Heather's contact info: when they require such services.

Heather is a extremely good listener and quick study. heather is not afraid of voicing her opinion in order to generate the right result for her client. Heather is very efficient and looks through a clients issues to the end game. Having worked with Heather on a couple of different files and following her advice we reached the right outcomes. Have found Heather is always available to address a situation quickly Heather is always very professional to work with. I would have no hesitation in recommending Heather to tackle challenges in her field of expertise.

I worked with Heather when she practiced employment and labour law at BLG. As well, since leaving BLG, I had the opportunity to work with Heather again as she had a client who needed business advice, (and after I retired from the practice of law I established a business advisory company). In the course of my work with this mutual client, I learned from my client the work that Heather was doing for her. It was an extremely delicate, complicated and unusual employment law case, but Heather was able to arrange a settlement that our mutual client found very acceptable. In my opinion, and I have worked with many lawyers, Heather has all the qualities that a client looks for in a lawyer--not only the legal and people skills one expects or hopes for, but an efficient and effective approach that almost always guarantees a successful outcome. I have no hesitation in recommending Heather if you require advice on workplace related matters.

It is a pleasure to work with Heather. Drawing on her extensive employment law expertise and experience in human resource management, Heather provides us with thoughtful guidance on a broad range of human resource issues that lead to practical solutions and superior outcomes. She is not only smart and professional, she is compassionate and wise. I would highly recommend her to others.

It has been a pleasure working with Heather. She is professional, open, generous, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. Heather understands our needs and the needs of our clients and colleagues. She is happy to share her experience with others, she is a great partner, and she is committed to making a positive difference in the corporate and not-for-profit worlds. I can’t recommend Heather enough.

Heather rearranged her schedule so that she could expeditiously assist RDH with a delicate internal issue. Her assistance was thorough, diligent, very professional; and reflected her appreciation of people, organizations and the law. We would not hesitate to use Heather again in any similar situation for which the introduction of an independent third party is either needed, or simply wise.

Heather was an incredible resource to the company on our human resource issues, providing insight and workable resolution options based on her extensive experience and knowledge. In addition, Heather was willing to assist us even with short notice at times as she understands the urgency of dealing with human resource issues in a timely and fair manner. Consequently, I would not hesitate in recommending Heather to other companies needing advice and resolution to the complexities of human resource issues.

I am very comfortable in recommending Heather Hettiarachchi to anyone who is in a labour dispute with an employer. Heather is very thorough , asks the right questions, listens and takes the correct amount of action required to achieve the desired results. I would not hesitate in engaging Heather in the future, should it be required and wish her much success in the future.

Heather worked on a personal file for our family; she was diligent, strategic and creative in all aspects of that work, and was instrumental in bringing a complex matter to a settlement. She worked well with the other parties, and brings a wholly professional approach to her work. We would not hesitate to recommend her to clients as a skilled advocate, who understands both the law and the business aspects of a case.

Resources

In Teljeur v Aurora Hotel Group, 2023 ONSC 1324, a court had to decide whether an employee who had been terminated without cause....
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In Bryant v Parkland School Division, 2002 ABCA 220, the Alberta Court of Appeal held that three employees were entitled to common law notice....
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In Dr. C. Sims Dentistry Professional Corporation v. Cooke, 2024 ONCA 388, the ON Court of Appeal had to determine the enforceability of a....
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In Lefebvre v. Gisborne Holdings Ltd., 2023 BCSC 2231, the BC Supreme Court had to decide whether the employer had dismissed Ms. Lefebvre, who had....
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