When is a COVID layoff actually constructive dismissal?

An Ontario judge has recently ruled that an employee of an ophthalmic clinic who was laid off early in the pandemic was actually terminated, and eligible to sue for constructive dismissal. Some legal experts have been predicting this all along and say this could mean thousands of lawsuits in the coming years after so many lost their jobs last year. On today’s episode of “This Matters,” we try to understand what this means, what it means for those out of work and if thousands of employers could now be on the hook.

Guest: Rosa Saba, Business Reporter, Toronto Star