
Received A Human Rights Complaint? Start Here.
According to the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act, employers are responsible for creating a work environment where employees are treated with respect and are free from discrimination and harassment.
This seems simple, but Canadian human rights laws are always evolving. Further muddying the waters is the fact that employees don’t have to prove intent in order to win a discrimination case.
If you have found yourself on the receiving end of a human rights complaint, Morrison Reist Krauss will be there for you throughout the entire process. We can assist you with maintaining compliance and finding reasonable resolutions to complex human rights issues.

What You Need To Know
As an employer, it is critical for you to know your obligations under the law and get upfront advice to assist you in taking responsive ‒ and proactive ‒ approaches to create a positive workplace culture, while also reducing exposure to potential claims of human rights violations
When it comes to human rights, there are a few things every employer needs to know:
- In respect of employment there are 16 prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code (listed below) and similar categories exist under the Canadian Human Rights Act for federally regulated employers:
- Age
- Ancestry, colour, race, or creed
- Citizenship, ethnic origin, or place of origin
- Disability
- Family status, or marital status (including single status)
- Gender identity, gender expression
- Record of offences (in employment only)
- Sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding) and sexual orientation