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Employment Harassment Lawyers Standing Up For Your Rights
Hello! I’m Christopher Achkar, and I’m here to assist you.
[If you are an employer, click here.]
It’s the law in Ontario: You don’t have to tolerate any type of harassment at work.
You have the right to refuse to work when you feel harassed without the fear of losing your job.
You have the right to report workplace harassment and the law prohibits your employer from taking any negative action against you for doing so. This includes unwanted changes to your job.
If you are offered an exit agreement, severance, or change of position, do not accept or sign anything before speaking with one of our lawyers. By accepting their offer, you could be forfeiting thousands of dollars in entitlements.
Your employer is obligated by law to provide a safe environment and may face serious consequences for not doing so, including non-taxable funds paid to compensate you for the harassment you’ve experienced which includes injury to your dignity, feelings, and any other human rights violations.
The amount of general damages awarded in a workplace harassment or human rights case can vary widely, depending on the circumstances of the case. On the low end, it may be a few thousand dollars, while in more severe cases it could be as much as $30,000 or more. Ultimately, the amount awarded by an adjudicator or vice-chair at the Tribunal will depend on a range of factors, including the events, their degree, effect, and various other factors that can mean a big difference in the amount awarded.
In addition to general damages, you may also be entitled to special damages if you’ve suffered financial losses as a result of harassment at work. Special damages compensate you for lost wages and other expenses. These funds are generally taxable, but there are ways the skilled harassment lawyers at Achkar Law can help you structure a settlement to minimize your tax liability when possible.
If you were let go or experienced constructive dismissal, you may also be entitled to lost wages from the date of termination until the date of a hearing, or until you find comparable employment. Other expenses, such as legal fees or medical expenses related to your injuries, may also be compensated through special damages.
What is harassment at work?
- Aggressive or threatening behaviour
- Bullying and intimidation
- Verbal threats or abuse
- Swearing at someone or using inappropriate language toward them
- Physical assault
- Persistently criticizing, undermining, belittling, demeaning, ridiculing, or maliciously embarrassing someone
- Spreading malicious rumours or gossip
- Socially excluding or isolating someone
- Damaging, hiding or stealing someone’s personal belongings or work equipment
- Using the Internet or social media to harass, threaten or maliciously embarrass someone
- Displaying posters, cartoons or images of a sexual or offensive nature
- Unwanted staring or following
- Unwanted phone calls, texts, or emails
- Abusing authority by publicly ridiculing or disciplining a subordinate
- Abusing authority by interfering with a subordinate’s performance or job (for example, blocking applications for leave, training or promotion in an arbitrary manner)
- Abusing authority by soliciting a sexual or romantic relationship from a subordinate, or making social invitations with sexual overtones to a subordinate
- Making abusive or derogatory pictures, documents, remarks or jokes about someone’s gender, gender identity or gender expression, sex or sexual orientation (for example, homophobic remarks)
- Sexual remarks
- Sexual touching (for example, patting, pinching, caressing, kissing, fondling)
- Sexual invitations or requests in return for a promise of a reward (such as a promotion)
If you feel you have to quit or did quit because you were being harassed at work, then you may have case for constructive dismissal.
Click here if you believe you have experienced discrimination and your human rights have been violated.
Why Choose Achkar Law?
At Achkar Law we are employment, human rights, and employment harassment lawyers with years of strategic experience helping individuals properly navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding workplace harassment.
Whether you’re seeking general damages for emotional and psychological harm or special damages for financial losses, we can help you understand your options.
Unlike other firms, our phone lines are staffed by specialists adept at assessing whether consulting with one of our harassment lawyers can provide the assistance you need. Isn’t that what matters most to you right now, without costing you a cent?
If our intake specialist recommends a “Strategy Session” with one of our experienced workplace harassment lawyers, you can rest assured knowing that you’re on the right path.
We’re proud to be recognized as one of the top-rated law firms in the Toronto GTA, with an exceptional track record of positive outcomes for our clients. See our outstanding Google Reviews below.
Scroll down to call or message us now to speak with an intake specialist free of charge and find out if a Strategy Session can help you.
