Employment Law Services
Lecker & Associates offer a full suite of employment law services for employees of Ontario.
YEARS IN PRACTICE
About Our Lawyers
Over our 35+ years of service, Lecker & Associates have handled almost every type of case. Our team of experienced employment lawyers stand poised to strategically advise and advocate for you to ensure your rights are defended.
We are Toronto employment lawyers specializing in employment and disability benefits law. We have the knowledge, experience and ability to handle challenges that often surface in relationships between employees and their employers. Our lawyers have successfully litigated precedent setting cases and added clarity to laws which previously remained open to interpretation.
Unlike many employment law firms in Toronto, Lecker & Associates exclusively represent employees. This has been our specialty for over 35 years. We recognize the stress our clients are under when they seek out our services. Consequently, we approach each case with professionalism, sensitivity, and tact.
Read more about our employment law services.
At our office in Toronto employment lawyers practice to acquire deep levels of specialization. We conduct a thorough initial appointment to determine which one can best manage your case. Has your employer dismissed you unjustly? Are you a victim of a human rights abuse? Is your employment contract fair? Has your benefits provider unfairly withheld or denied your disability claim?
Each one of these requires a different strategic approach. We assign your case to the lawyer with the best technical knowledge of the subject matter. Consequently, we manage your case for the best outcome possible in your favour.
Bios of our team: Toronto Employment Lawyers.
Legal fees should never deter you from obtaining your lawful entitlements. In the vast majority of cases, we do not require a retainer up-front. Instead, we charge a percentage of the settlement we obtain for you.
Our initial assessment of your situation will be free. When you engage us to work for you, we always begin the relationship with a Service Commitment letter which outlines what we will do for you, along with the corresponding fee. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this openly and frankly.
Revenue Canada allows you to deduct most legal fees incurred for an employment matter when you file your income taxes. At the conclusion of your case, we will provide you with a detailed statement for this purpose.
Read more about our Legal Fees
Latest from our Employee Rights Blog
We regularly publish new blogs containing information useful for employees. We encourage you to visit often.
Notable Cases
Keenan Case: $125,000 Precedent Setting Win
This is the highest ever compensation award for contract workers in Canada and we hope the message is loud and clear. Ontario’s top court has made the ground rules crystal clear. Employers can no longer give the self serving title of “independent contractor” to vulnerable workers who are not that independent. – Bram Lecker Feb 2016
read moreFrequently Asked Questions
Can my employer ask me to sign an employment contract that suggests I can be let go ||at will||?
Am I entitled to my old job when I return from disability or maternity leave?
If your leave extends beyond two years, your employer can fire you by declaring the employment relationship “frustrated”. And in this event, you should consult with one of our lawyers.
How much severance am I entitled to when my employer lets me go?
Alternatively, your employer can offer you severance pay in lieu of this notice period. The Employment Standards Act 2000 outlines the minimum standards for notice and severance pay. However, if your employer terminates you without cause then you could receive an additional level of financial compensation. The circumstances of your employment come into play to determine the fairness of your severance package. We review four basic issues; Your age, your position, length of service and how long it will take you to find another job. If you are close to retirement and at a senior point in your career, chances are you will find some challenges to land an equivalent job any time soon. And in this case, your severance should be much higher than the minimum set out in the ESA 2000.
If my employer changes my job description or pay, do I have to accept it?
- In exchange for the wage cut, they should offer you equivalent “consideration” .Examples are more vacation time, signing bonuses, reduced hours etc
- If these changes are not acceptable to you, then your employer must offer you an adequate severance package to end your employment relationship.
My employer has hired me as a ||contractor|| but I perform the same job as an employee. Is this legal?
You should question the motives of any employer who has hired you as a “dependent contractor”. They may be skirting the law. They might be avoiding paying out your CPP, EI and severance benefits. Contact one of our lawyers for an assessment of your case.
Unionized Employees
Good news for employees working under a collective agreement as part of a union. For employment related disputes, your legal fees are covered through your union dues. Before you contact us however, call your union’s business agent for next steps. The provisions of the Labour Relations Act prevent us from representing you without expressed consent from your union.
The Exception: We can interject if your union has failed to represent you properly for claims against an insurance provider regarding your company sponsored Long-Term Disability Claim.
Client Testimonials
What our clients are saying.
Matthew Fisher of Lecker & Associates represented me in 2 very different situations. He is knowledgeable, thorough, calm and persistent. I felt reassured and well supported throughout, by him and all the staff. Mr Fisher achieved success on my behalf both times. Excellent firm.
Anne BrusbyExcellent service was provided by the team at Lecker & Associates. Would highly recommend them to represent you in Employment Dismal cases. Very efficient and thorough when dealing with my previous employer legal team. Took control and handled all aspects during this difficult time, they kept me informed throughout the entire process and I couldn’t have been happier with the end result!
Golf GuyA friend of mine recommended this firm to assist with my employment dismissal, I was very pleased with Matthew Fisher and his team support, advise and expertise. They took the time the keep me updated on the case progress, provided excellent advise and finally Matthew negotiated a better deal than the one I was originally offered. I would highly recommend Lecker & Associates.
Rene CastilloI had the pleasure of working with Maria Esmatyar in my settlement case. She was professional and informative.She explained the expectation from our first meeting and worked hard to achieved that goal. At the end, she made a negative situation into a positive experience. Thanks Maria.
John LimJordan Reiner handled my case and I feel very fortunate that I found him. He delivered exactly what he promised the first time I saw him. He did an exceptional job of working with me to get to a fair settlement and exceeded all my expectations. I will highly recommend Jordan to any professional looking to hire an Employment Lawyer.
Adrian D.I recently used this law firm (more specifically lawyer Matthew Fisher and senior law clerk Eslita Ramkishun) to handle my severance case. This team was very knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating, the issue was handle expertly and efficiently, and I was very happy with the settlement. I would recommend this law firm and team to anyone in need of legal help settling a severance claim.
Brent Murphy