{"id":326,"date":"2026-02-18T09:45:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T09:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techajob.co.uk\/northgate\/?p=326"},"modified":"2026-06-11T19:47:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:47:17","slug":"growing-your-team-in-ontario-ensure-your-employment-contracts-hold-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techajob.co.uk\/northgate\/2026\/02\/18\/growing-your-team-in-ontario-ensure-your-employment-contracts-hold-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Your Team in Ontario? Ensure Your Employment Contracts Hold Up"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Global companies expanding into Ontario or establishing a Canadian presence may assume that once an employee signs an employment agreement, it\u2019s legally binding on the parties. <\/span><\/p>\n

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This assumption is, however, false. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Regardless of where a business is headquartered, if there are Ontario-based employees, employment contracts must be Ontario-compliant. <\/span><\/p>\n

For Israeli startups in particular, using parent-company templates or standard agreements drafted under Israeli or American norms can unintentionally violate Ontario statutory protections, and expose the company to costly claims.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s what companies operating in Ontario need to know:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Ontario employment law applies based on where the work is performed<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

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    Companies with Ontario-based employees cannot contract out of Ontario\u2019s minimum statutory entitlements per the Employment Standards Ac<\/u><\/em><\/a>t<\/u><\/a> (the \u201cESA<\/strong>\u201d). This includes rules around termination notice, vacation pay, public holidays, overtime, among other employer restrictions and employee entitlements. <\/span><\/p>\n


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    Some international employment agreements attempt to specify that another country\u2019s law governs the contract (<\/span>i.e.<\/em>, a clause stipulating \u201cThis Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.\u201d). Ontario courts will, however, still apply the ESA if the employee\u2019s work is performed in Ontario. <\/span><\/p>\n

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    This includes situations where:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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