FOR EMPLOYEES
Employment Contract Lawyers Toronto
Starting a New Job or Facing Termination? Speak With a Toronto Employment Contracts Lawyer
Your employment contract defines crucial aspects of your workplace relationship, like salary, benefits, termination rules, and future restrictions. Whether you’re negotiating a new agreement or challenging termination terms, Toronto-based Greenwood Law provides expert legal guidance to help you protect your rights and maximize your opportunities.
Meet Your Employment Contracts Team in Toronto
Our employment lawyers in Toronto specializes in employment contract review and negotiation for employees. We understand the significance of these documents and the long-term impact even a minor clause can have. Our precise and proactive approach ensures you understand each term, avoid hidden traps, and negotiate favourable outcomes, giving you confidence as you start or transition between roles.
What Should I Look For Before Signing an Employment Contract?
Before committing, it’s crucial to review these core elements:
- Compensation and benefits: salary, bonuses, pension, stock options
- Job responsibilities and how changes may occur
- Termination and severance clauses: notice periods, pay in lieu, and appeal rights
- Restrictive provisions: non-compete, non-solicit, confidentiality, and post-employment terms
- Leave entitlements, probationary terms, performance expectations, and dispute resolution
A lawyer helps ensure statutory compliance, identify questionable clauses, and confirm there’s adequate review time to fully understand your rights and obligations (e.g., under Waksdale and Uber v Heller, courts may invalidate unfair terms)
Can My Employment Contract Limit My Severance Rights?
Yes. Some contracts include clauses limiting severance beyond statutory minimums. However, under Ontario law, such clauses must be clear, fair, and supported by independent legal advice. If the agreement was rushed or inadequately explained, courts may deem it unenforceable, potentially allowing you to claim full common-law severance (reasonableness based on Bardal factors). Examine your termination clause carefully with a lawyer’s help
Are Restrictive Covenants (Non-Compete, Non-Solicit) Enforceable?
Non-compete and non-solicitation clauses are only enforceable if they’re reasonable in scope (time, geography, activity) and legitimate for protecting business interests. The Supreme Court of Canada (Uber v Heller) scrutinizes overly broad or one-sided terms in “contracts of adhesion.” A knowledgeable lawyer can assess your clause and challenge or negotiate reasonable limits
What Happens When My Contract Conflicts with Legislation?
Employment contracts cannot override mandatory minimums outlined in Ontario law, like those under the ESA. If a clause attempts to reduce ESA entitlements, notice, severance, payment in lieu, it’s invalid. Courts will enforce statutory or common-law protections, not contract terms that improperly limit your rights. Our review ensures your contract aligns with legal standards
Why You Need a Lawyer for Employment Contracts
- Prevent costly mistakes: Early legal input can avoid future disputes and severance challenges
- Secure full entitlements: We help you negotiate competitive pay, bonuses, benefits, and terms
- Challenge unfair clauses: We’ll identify and push back on overbroad non-competes or termination limitations
- Ensure combat compliance: We confirm your contract meets ESA requirements and Waksdale precedent
- Provide review time: Employers must give reasonable time to review contracts, your position is stronger when well-prepared
Hear From Our Clients
Helping Clients Get Back to Work
Our employment lawyers in Toronto are ready to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
Table of Contents
Hear From Our Clients
Helping Clients Get Back to Work
Our employment lawyers in Toronto are ready to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
Why Chooose Greenwood Law - Toronto Employment Lawyers
Our legal team focuses on tailored strategies that reflect the unique details of your case, not cookie, cutter solutions.
Expertise in Toronto employment contract law
Our lawyers understand the latest Ontario case law, like Waksdale and Dufault, and ensure employment agreements comply with both ESA and common law standards for enforceability and fairness.
Protecting your rights, earnings, and future
We identify risky clauses, such as termination caps, non-competes, or exclusion of bonuses—and negotiate amendments to safeguard your severance and career opportunities
Customized contract review and negotiation support
Our lawyers pinpoint hidden liabilities within contracts, advise on improvements, and help you negotiate terms like compensation, probation, and non-solicitation limits with confidence.
Prevent disputes and maximize outcomes
Early legal review of a job offer or termination clause helps you avoid costly mistakes later, in severance claims, wrongful dismissal, or enforceability challenges.
Employment Contracts Lawyer in Toronto Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the contract after it’s been offered?
Yes, before signing, you can request edits, especially to remove restrictive clauses, improve severance terms, or clarify job duties. A legal review ensures your changes are properly drafted and enforceable.
What happens after I sign?
Once you sign, its terms are binding. If later terms conflict with your rights, legal claims may be possible, but it’s better to address as many concerns pre-signature as you can.
Do I need independent legal advice on non-compete clauses?
While not mandatory always, having a lawyer confirm you understood restrictions is especially important if you’re in a senior role. This protects your right to enforce healthy severance or challenge restrictions later.
What is a "Waksdale challenge"?
Named after a landmark decision (Post-Waksdale v Ontario), this challenge allows courts to invalidate written contract terms that penalize employees, making them unfair or unenforceable.
How much does a review cost?
Contract reviews vary by complexity. Lawyers provide transparent, upfront pricing, often flat fees for standard agreement review. We’ll explain costs before you engage.
Are verbal agreements enforceable?
Yes. Under common law, oral assurances, like a bonus or role description, can be legally binding. We help confirm and enforce all terms, even outside written contracts.
Speak with an Employment Contracts Lawyer in Toronto
Don’t sign until you understand every clause. Greenwood Law offers comprehensive contract review and negotiation support to protect your rights and future.
Areas We Serve
At Greenwood Law, we proudly serve clients across Ontario & throughout Canada, including:
