Employment law deals with both the employer's and the employee's actions, rights and responsibilities, as well as their relationship with one another. Discrimination, workplace safety and standards, and workers' compensation fall under employment law. Likewise, employee benefits, retirement and pensions, compensation and much more, are part of this broad legal area.

Why should you care about employment law?

As an employer it is your responsibility to ensure your employees' rights under employment law are protected. It's also up to business leaders and managers to create a healthy work culture that encourages communication, ideas, growth, and work-life balance. Following employment law is a minimum requirement for cultivating an environment that fulfills, motivates, and inspires employees each and every day.

If that's not reason enough, not knowing your legal obligations as an employer can cost you in other ways. The following facts speak for themselves:

  • Hundreds of employment lawsuits are filed every day.
  • The hourly rate for a lawyer to defend a lawsuit varies from $200.00 for a junior lawyer to $600.00 for senior counsel.
  • The vast majority of employment lawsuits are won by the plaintiff.
  • One in five employment law jury verdicts is for over a million-dollars
  • If you’re audited or a complaint is filed against you under the NS Labour Standards Code, pay may be ordered dating back a number of months (such as for unpaid vacation pay). In the case of an audit, pay could be ordered for a number of employees.

This section provides the information you need to fulfill the rights of your employees and protect your business.