Workplace harm, power, and the law

The Ontario Superior Court has opened the door to a potential new legal claim for “injury to dignity” caused by systemic anti-Black racism in the workplace. The self-represented plaintiff, Crown lawyer Jean-Marie Dixon, challenges the boundaries of human rights and labour law — and her courage may help reshape both.

Most if not all older women in the workplace face discrimination tied to menopause. A recent UK study shows how workplace myths and token “wellness” fixes, like yoga breaks, miss the mark. Here’s what real inclusion looks like.

In Marks v PepsiCo Canada, a single mother’s human rights claim turned into a retraumatizing ordeal when her employer called her abusive ex as a surprise witness. This case highlights the urgent need for a trauma- and violence-informed approach to human rights litigation.

A new Harvard and University of Exeter study found that a simple 7-minute video before hiring decisions dramatically improved outcomes for equity-deserving candidates. Here’s what it means for Ontario employers as new job posting laws take effect.

In OPSEU v LCBO, a rural worker facing intimate partner violence and suspected alcohol use was terminated despite the employer “doing everything right.” This case reveals why trauma- and violence-informed accommodation matters — and how communities can step up to remove barriers to safety and support.

Teenage girls earn $3 less per hour than boys in their summer jobs — and the gap is even wider in caregiving roles. What does that tell us about the roots of workplace inequity, and what can organizations do to make change?

Many workplaces take comfort in having little to no harassment complaints. But “no complaints” doesn’t always mean “no problems.” Here are three overlooked gaps that might be hiding behind seemingly clean stats — and what HR leaders can do to close them.

Participatory Gender Audits (PGAs) go beyond traditional culture reviews — providing a more intersectional, rigorous, and evidence-based way to understand how identity, bias, and systems interact in the workplace. Here’s how PGAs help organizations build more inclusive and resilient cultures.

A recent legal decision, Bombardier v Unifor, highlights how employers can overreach when assessing family status accommodation requests. Learn how to respect employee privacy while meeting legal obligations.

Many workplace pregnancy loss policies reference miscarriage and stillbirth but leave out abortion. This omission creates stigma, confusion, and harm. Here’s why inclusive policies matter—and how employers can take action.