Top 5 Reasons to get a Severance Package Reviewed by an Employment Lawyer
1. Did the company only offer the minimum termination pay under the Employment Standards Code? Most employees are owed common law notice rather than just the minimum legislated amounts under the Employment Standards Code. This is assessed by looking at a variety of factors such as length of service, age, title, etc. Even if your... Read More
In Loving Memory – Stacey Amber Thomas
The West Legal Family has lost a beautiful soul. Stacey Amber Thomas passed away peacefully on December 24th after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Stacey was first and foremost a loving and caring mother to three beautiful daughters, Tina, Shelby, and Jodi. She inspired her children throughout her lifetime with her work ethic... Read More
Employer Obligations on Alberta Election Day May 29, 2023
Election Day is fast approaching! On Monday, May 29th, Albertans go to the polls. The Election Act in Alberta requires employers in Alberta to provide employees with time off to vote, as follows: Electors should have three consecutive, non-work hours to vote during one of the days of advance voting or on Election Day. If... Read More
Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Will
If you are wondering why having a Will in Alberta matters, the answer is simple: a properly drafted Will gives you control. It allows you to decide who receives your assets, how your Estate is managed, and who will handle important responsibilities after your death. Without a Will, Alberta law decides many of these issues... Read More
Forced Sale of Jointly Owned Property: Partition and Sale in Alberta
In Alberta, you can force the sale of jointly owned property. Section 15 of the Law of Property Act allows a co-owner of property to apply to the court for the sale or division of property. A co-owner is someone who is listed on title as a “joint-tenant” or a “tenant in common”. On application... Read More
Top 10 Reasons to Get a Severance Package Reviewed by an Employment Lawyer
1. Did the company only offer the minimum termination pay under the Employment Standards Code? Most employees are owed common law notice rather than just the minimum legislated amounts under the Employment Standards Code. This is assessed by looking at a variety of factors such as length of service, age, title, etc. Even if your employer... Read More
COVID-19: Can Employers legally require their employees to be vaccinated?
The Government of Alberta declared a state of Public Health Emergency on September 15, 2021, and announced new directives to combat the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this, employers continue to consider whether they can impose a mandatory vaccination requirement of their existing and new employees. Employer’s Obligations Employers have a positive legal duty... Read More
What’s the Difference Between Civil, Family & Criminal Law?
Which is worse? Getting served with a civil suit, i.e., being sued – or being charged with a crime? It’s hard to say. There are different issues that require different lines of analysis, different arguments which result in different outcomes. You might have watched various TV shows and gotten a bit confused by the legal... Read More
How Criminal Charges Affect Child Custody in Alberta
There are many different ways that criminal and family law come together, and one of those areas is child custody. If you find yourself in court over a custody dispute, there are many different factors your judge will consider when granting custody. Can your criminal charges affect whether or not you lose custody of your... Read More
Alberta COVID-19 Vaccinations & the Workplace
We are now in the thick of Canadians being able to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Many employers and employees are now wondering if an employer can require their employees to get vaccinated? The short answer is YES they can, BUT this is subject to some important legal qualifications. As such, employers may only strongly encourage... Read More