@firstreference

First Reference is a provider of Canadian employment law, payroll & internal control compliance services & resources for businesses, HR & other professionals.

 Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
firstreference.com
Joined April 2008
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  • Followers1.2K
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Registration is NOW OPEN for the 26th Annual Ontario Employment Law Conference – live online on September 17! See more: conference.firstreference.co… #EmploymentLaw #HRCompliance #OntarioHR #FirstReference #HRConference2025
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New FRTalks: How AI is changing hiring: The opportunities and challenges | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/how-… #hr #humanresources #hrlaw #workplace #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #management #recruiting #hrblog #Employment

How AI is changing hiring: The opportunities and challenges | First Reference

AI is becoming a game-changer in hiring and workplace decisions. It’s helping companies streamline recruitment, make smarter choices, and even tackle bias in the process.

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New FRTalks blog post: Enforcing the right to disconnect | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/enfo… #righttodisconnect #hr #hrlaw #hrblog #humanresources #workplace #business #management #online #Internet #IT

Enforcing the right to disconnect | First Reference

The inclusion of a right to disconnect in the ESA was initially considered as a positive step forward for employees in Ontario. The reality is that this “right” was a procedural guarantee in the ESA.

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New FRTalks: Quiet quitting: What employers need to know | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/quie… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #payroll #workplace #business #management #leadership #resignation #employment #contract #hrblog

Quiet quitting: What employers need to know | First Reference

You may have heard of the trend where employees engage in “quiet quitting.” It started around the early 2020s during the pandemic. But what is it? How common is it? Why do employees do it? And what...

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New FRTalks: Common employee handbook mistakes and how to avoid them | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/comm… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #hrblog #hrpolicies #policies #workplace #management #employment #employeehandbook #business

Common employee handbook mistakes and how to avoid them | First Reference

Employee handbooks can be a useful tool in managing the workplace. When done properly, they offer a number of advantages, such as helping to formalize various processes (fostering consistency and...

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New FRTalks: Performance reviews 101 | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/perf… #hr #humanresources #hrlaw #hrblog #workplace #business #management #performancereview #payroll #employment #appraisal #CareerGrowth

Performance reviews 101 | First Reference

By avoiding common pitfalls and prioritizing fairness and specificity, employers can foster a productive and legally compliant review process.

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New FRTalks: Common mistakes on a Record of Employment (ROE) | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/comm… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #hrblog #payroll #ROE #EIbenefits #compensation #workplace #management #employmentinsurance #benefits #recordofemployment

Common mistakes on a Record of Employment (ROE) | First Reference

A Record of Employment (“ROE”) is an essential document used by employees to apply for Employment Insurance (“EI”) benefits.

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New FRTalks: Ontario overtime exemption: Managers | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/onta… #hr #hrlaw #hrblog #humanresources #workplace #business #management #overtime #hoursofwork #managers @RudnerLaw

Ontario overtime exemption: Managers | First Reference

In Ontario, managers are exempt from overtime rules, but only if they fall within a fairly narrow exemption for managers and supervisors. That exemption is not nearly as broad as many people believe,...

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New FRTalks: Occupational stress in the workplace | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/occu… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #hrblog #healthandsafety #OHS #workplace #business #management #stress #workplacestress

Occupational stress in the workplace | First Reference

Occupational stress is a harmful physical and emotional response that can occur when a job's demands don't match the worker's capabilities, resources or needs, often arising from job responsibiliti...

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New FRTalks: Human capital management (HCM): Align workforce and strategy | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/huma… #HCM #humanresources #hr #hrblog #management #humancapital #riskmanagement #risk #internalcontrols #workforce #workplace

Human capital management (HCM): Align workforce and strategy | First Reference

If your organization resembles the traditional personnel management model, consider adopting the more progressive HCM approach.

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New FRTalks: At-will employment: Canada v United States | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/at-w… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #payroll #business #workplace #management #employment #recruiting #atwill #contract #agreement

At-will employment: Canada v United States | First Reference

In employment, some business owners may not be aware of one of the main differences between Canada and the United States: The concept of at-will employment. At-will employment is not legal in Canada....

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New FRTalks: Responding to insubordination in the workplace | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/resp… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #hrblog #business #workplace #discipline #management #misconduct #hrpolicy #employeehandbook

Responding to insubordination in the workplace | First Reference

It is an unfortunate reality that most employers, should they operate long enough, will eventually be confronted with some form of employee misconduct. This article delves deep into one particular...

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New FRTalks: Employment contracts in Ontario: A practical guide for employers | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/empl… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #hrblog #workplace #business #management #employmentcontract #payroll #employment #recruiting

Employment contracts in Ontario: A practical guide for employers | First Reference

Employment contracts should be used for every employee, regardless of their role, pay level, or whether they are full-time, part-time, or temporary.

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A topic we deal with a lot... this misconception has to be explained repeatedly!
Stuart Rudner@RudnerLaw6 Nov 2024
Employers of all stripes make similar mistakes by assuming that because the ESA requires no notice for employees with less than three months of service, they are “probationary” employees and thus have no obligations towards them. rudnerlaw.ca/probationary-em…

The Ballad of the “Probationary” Employee - Rudner Law

Short service employees, who may not be entitled to statutory notice, can be entitled to reasonable notice and other entitlements which employers must provide.

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New FRTalks: Employee benefits and internal controls | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/empl… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #payroll #internalcontrols #business #benefits #compensation #finance #accounting #workplace #management

Employee benefits and internal controls | First Reference

Employee benefits require internal controls in addition to all the effort that goes into designing benefit packages to attract and retain talent.

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New FRTalks: Best practices when completing a Record of Employment (ROE): A starting point | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/best… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #payroll #business #workplace #management #hrblog #accounting #finance #recordofemployment #ROE #insurableearnings

Best practices when completing a Record of Employment (ROE): A starting point | First Reference

Among the many forms employers need to be aware of and complete, the Record of Employment (“ROE”) is high on the list. Employees need an ROE to access Employment Insurance benefits, and an ROE must...

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New FRTalks: Employers, it’s time to wake up: Nepotism in Canadian workplaces | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/empl… #hr #hrlaw #hrblog #humanresources #nepotism #policy #hrpolicy #workplace #business #management #humanrights #workplacenepotism @RudnerLaw

Employers, it’s time to wake up: Nepotism in Canadian workplaces | First Reference

Although nepotism may not be illegal per se, it poses serious concerns including a bad workplace culture at best and the creation of a toxic work environment at worst, poor employee morale, bad...

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FRTalks: What comes next-Google abused its monopoly power | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/what… #monopoly #internalcontrols #business #competition #SEO #SearchEngineOptimization #Search #advertisement #marketing #Google #operations

What comes next: Google abused its monopoly power | First Reference

I wrote recently about the landmark antitrust decision in which Google was found to be a monopolist who abused its power regarding general search and text advertising. The U.S. Department of Justice...

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New FRTalks: A reminder for employers: Unconscious bias in the workplace investigation process | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/a-re… #hr #humanresources #hrlaw #hrblog #humanrights #business #workplace #management #investigations #discrimination #bias #stereotypes

A reminder for employers: Unconscious bias in the workplace investigation process | First Reference

Workplace discrimination can take many forms and may include situations where an employee is the target of unintentional discriminatory behaviour informed by unconscious bias.

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New FRTalks: What employers need to know to avoid post-termination surprises: Bonuses and other fringe benefits | First Reference firstreference.com/blog/what… #hr #hrlaw #humanresources #hrblog #payroll #workplace #business #management #contract

What employers need to know to avoid post-termination surprises: Bonuses and other fringe benefits...

In a competitive job market, many employers turn to implementing bonus programs or offering other fringe benefits like car allowances to attract and retain talented employees.

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