SpringLaw

Medical leave note = accommodation approved? Not necessarily.

When an employee provides a doctor's note saying they're "totally disabled," can an employer ask for more information?

A recent Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario decision confirms that employers can request additional medical details when a note is too vague to understand an employee's workplace restrictions and accommodation needs.

In this blog, we break down:
✅ What information employers can ask for
✅ Why a vague medical note may not be enough
✅ The role of Functional Abilities Forms (FAFs)
✅ Key accommodation obligations for employers and employees
✅ Lessons from a recent HRTO decision

Read the blog:
https://springlaw.ca/medical-leave-notes/

🎉 Celebrating Jessica Paglia's 2-Year Anniversary at Spring Law!

Today, we're celebrating Jessica Paglia, one of our talented employment lawyers, on her two-year anniversary with Spring Law.
Jessica brings dedication, expertise, and a thoughtful approach to every client relationship. Her commitment to helping employers navigate workplace challenges and find practical solutions has made a meaningful impact on both our clients and team.

Thank you, Jessica, for your contributions, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to excellence. We're grateful to have you as part of the Spring Law team and look forward to all that's ahead!

👏 Join us in congratulating Jessica on this milestone.

Can you terminate an employee who is on leave?
It's one of the most common questions employers ask, and one of the easiest areas to get wrong.

Protected leaves such as medical leave, pregnancy leave, and parental leave come with significant legal protections. However, that doesn't necessarily mean employment can never be terminated during or after a leave.

The issue isn't whether termination is possible.
The issue is whether the decision can be supported by a legitimate business reason that has nothing to do with the employee taking leave. Poor timing, weak documentation, or inconsistent treatment can create significant legal exposure.

Our latest blog explains:
✅ When termination may be permitted
✅ Why timing matters
✅ Common employer mistakes
✅ How documentation can reduce risk

Read the full article:
https://springlaw.ca/employee-leave-termination/

AI can create polished work in seconds.

Judgment takes much longer.

As more workplaces adopt AI tools, employers need to think about what their teams are actually learning. Technical tasks may be faster, but critical thinking, strategy, communication, and decision-making still come from experience and mentorship.

If you're leading a team, building a mentoring culture could be one of the smartest investments you make.

Read our latest blog: 👉 https://springlaw.ca/mentoring-age-of-ai/

More Canadians are working past 65 and this is not a short-term trend. It is a shift that is reshaping the Canadian workforce.

For employers, this raises important legal and HR questions. How do you manage an aging workforce while staying compliant with employment law and human rights obligations?

In Canada, age discrimination is prohibited across hiring, promotions, workplace treatment, and termination decisions.

Mandatory retirement has largely disappeared, and benefits for employees over 65 continue to create complexity for employers.

This blog breaks down what employers need to know about:
• Age discrimination and human rights risks
• Workplace policies for older workers
• Benefits and accommodation considerations
• Long-term workforce planning

👉 Read the full breakdown:
https://springlaw.ca/older-workers-canada/

Happy Canada Day 🍁
Today we’re celebrating more than a country. We’re celebrating the people who make our workplaces kinder, smarter, and a little more human every day.
Here’s to building work that works for everyone.