Advocacy and Policy

Employment & Labour Law

Dave McKechnie

Published on January 26, 2010

While it sounds trite, the hallmark of any successful relationship is communication. Sometimes we forget that the employer-employee relationship is no different; disputes that arise in the workplace are often the result of poor communication on both sides of the relationship. Employers have to realize that in order to effectively manage their employees, they have to get out in front of issues that could arise and understand that their employees are looking to them for answers.

This Five Good Ideas session focuses on five ways that employers can improve their communications with employees and by extension, improve their employee relations. We will begin with thinking about what employers can do before the employee starts work in order to lay the groundwork for effective communication. We then talk about why employers and managers hesitate in communicating with employees. Finally we talk about ways to improve communications with employees throughout the employment relationship.

A cautionary note

The foregoing text and video is provided for general information purposes only. It is neither intended as, nor should be considered, legal advice and readers and viewers are cautioned against making any decisions based on this material alone. Rather, a qualified lawyer should be consulted. © McMillan LLP 2010.

Five Good Ideas

X Doesn’t Actually Mark Anything
Walk the Floor
Constant Chatter and Reinforcement
Meaningful Recognition
Listen, Investigate, Respond

Five Good Resources

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher
“The Office” (British and U.S. Versions)
Then We Came to an End by Joshua Ferris
Sexual Harassment: A Guide to Conducting Investigations by Neena Gupta
Employment Policies That Work by Joan Bolland and Ellen Mole

This Five Good Ideas session was made possible by the generous support of McMillan LLP.

Dave McKechnie

Chair, Employment & Labour Relations, McMillan LLP

Dave practises in all areas of labour and employment law at both the provincial and federal level. He advises and represents employers with respect to employee hiring and dismissal, wrongful dismissal claims, disability management and benefit issues, workplace accommodation, harassment, employment standards, employment contracts, employment policies, human rights, grievance arbitration, negotiation and administration of collective agreements, workers’ safety and insurance and Canada Labour Code unjust dismissal complaints. Dave also has experience in relation to employee and retiree benefits class action claims.

Dave represents clients in front of various labour tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, employment insurance appeals, employment standards hearings and at arbitrations and mediations. Dave has also regularly appeared before the Ontario Superior Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Dave is a member of the firm’s business immigration practice, and advises clients on all aspects of business immigration, including labour market opinions, intra-company transfers, professional applications and permanent residence applications for economic class immigration and provincial nominees.

Dave is a graduate with honours of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining McMillan, he worked as a litigation clerk at Thompson Coburn LLP in Washington, D.C.