Employment lawyer Stuart Rudner joins First30 CEO Amy Davies in this episode of Coffee ’n’ Law for an in-depth discussion on dismissals and terminations.

Amy and Stuart talk about termination as a legal risk for organizations, and misconceptions like the “one month per year” severance. Stuart explains the important distinctions between termination with cause and without cause, and why employers often have more flexibility than they realize.

In this episode’s “Spill the Tea” segment, Stuart describes an instance of employee misuse of company phones by sending and receiving inappropriate texts and images, and the positions of the employees involved proved even more shocking.

Connect with Stuart Rudner:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/stuartrudner/
Visit Rudner Law: www.rudnerlaw.ca
Get your copy of Stuart’s book, You’re Fired! Cause For Dismissal in Canada, here: www.rudnerlaw.ca/publications/

Connect with Amy Davies:
On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviesamy
Email: amy@first30ready.com
Visit First30's website: www.first30ready.com

HR Law Canada
Stay up to date with employment law news by subscribing to HR Law Canada: www.hrlawcanada.com

This podcast is produced by Storyphora, www.storyphora.com, info@storyphora.com
#amydavies #coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #termination #workplacelaw

In this episode of Coffee ’n’ Law, host Amy Davies welcomes back employment lawyer Neena Gupta for an insightful discussion on bullying and harassment in the workplace. Together they explore what legally constitutes harassment versus what may be considered poor management or interpersonal conflict.

Other topics discussed include the role of workplace policies and prevention programs, and how organizations should respond to complaints involving senior leadership or small business owners.

As always, the episode closes with a “Spill the Tea” segment featuring real-world reflections on reacting to urgent situations, and the importance of speaking up when something doesn’t feel right.

Whether you’re an HR professional, business owner, or organizational leader, this episode will help you navigate sensitive workplace issues and foster a respectful and compliant work environment.

Connect with Neena Gupta:

On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/neena-gupta-0107aa4
Email: neena.gupta@gowlingwlg.com
Visit Gowling WLG's website: www.gowlingwlg.com

Connect with Amy Davies:

On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviesamy
Email: amy@first30ready.com
Visit First30's website: www.first30ready.com

HR Law Canada

Stay up to date with employment law news by subscribing to HR Law Canada: www.hrlawcanada.com

This podcast is produced by Storyphora, www.storyphora.com, info@storyphora.com

#amydavies #neenagupta #coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #workplacelaw #harassment #leadership

In this episode of Coffee ’n’ Law, host Amy Davies is joined by workplace investigator Dean Benard of Benard + Associates for a practical and eye-opening conversation on workplace investigations.

They explore when an organization is legally and ethically required to investigate, including both formal complaints and situations where management becomes aware of potential issues. Dean breaks down the concept of a “threshold analysis” and explains how employers can determine when an investigation is necessary.

The episode also highlights a broader organizational challenge: many workplace issues are known long before they are formally investigated. Dean introduces the idea of “watchers” within organizations and explains how tolerated behaviour can escalate into serious legal and cultural risks if left unaddressed.

The episode closes with the usual “Spill the Tea” segment, this time offering a powerful insight rather than a story, revealing why workplace investigations often expose patterns that organizations already suspected but failed to act on.

Whether you are an HR professional, business owner, or organizational leader, this episode provides essential guidance on how to approach workplace investigations with clarity, fairness, and confidence.

Connect with Dean Benard:

On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deanbenard/
Visit Benard + Associates: www.benardinc.com

Reporting platform: https://confidentell.ca/

Connect with Amy Davies:

On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviesamy
Email: amy@first30ready.com
Visit First30's website: www.first30ready.com

HR Law Canada

Stay up to date with employment law news by subscribing to HR Law Canada: www.hrlawcanada.com

This podcast is produced by Storyphora, www.storyphora.com, info@storyphora.com

#coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #workplaceinvestigations #HRcompliance #leadership #organizationalculture

In this episode of Coffee ’n’ Law, host Amy Davies welcomes back employment lawyer Neena Gupta for a practical and timely discussion.

They explore why employment agreements are foundational documents for every organization regardless of size, and how failing to properly draft or update them can expose employers to significant legal and financial risk. Other topics discussed are the timing of employment agreement reviews, how promotions, compensation changes and role shifts can invalidate outdated agreements, and what courts look at when determining reasonable notice.

As always, the episode closes with a “Spill the Tea” segment featuring a real-life legal twist that highlights why employers should never assume a file is straightforward.

Whether you are an HR professional, business owner, or organizational leader, this episode offers practical insights to help you protect your organization and treat your people fairly, from hiring through departure.

Connect with Neena Gupta:

On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/neena-gupta-0107aa4

Email: neena.gupta@gowlingwlg.com

Visit Gowling WLG's website: www.gowlingwlg.com

Connect with Amy Davies:

On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviesamy

Email: amy@first30ready.com

Visit First30's website: www.first30ready.com

HR Law Canada

Stay up to date with employment law news by subscribing to HR Law Canada: www.hrlawcanada.com

This podcast is produced by Storyphora, www.storyphora.com, info@storyphora.com

#amydavies #neenagupta #coffeenlaw#amydavies #coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #termination #workplacelaw

In this episode of Coffee ’n’ Law, host Amy Davies is joined by Gabriella Agostinelli of Berardi Immigration Law to discuss what employers, HR professionals and travellers should know about crossing the U.S. border.

They cover practical guidance for business travel to the United States including what documentation to carry, how to prepare for border crossings, device and electronic search considerations, and how organizations can support employees who travel regularly. Gabriella also shares advice on choosing border crossings, understanding your rights, and steps travellers can take to avoid issues or delays.
While the discussion is highly relevant for employers and HR teams, this episode also includes helpful insights for anyone travelling to the U.S. for work or personal reasons.

For a copy of the transcript of this episode, click on this link:
https://www.first30ready.ac-page.com/coffeenlawtranscriptepisode2

Thanks to our partners at HR Law Canada (https://www.hrlawcanada.com).

Connect with Gabriella Agostinelli:
On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gabriella-agostinelli-esq-44517a8b
Email: GAgost@usimmlawyer.com
Visit Berardi Immigration Law: www.berardiimmigrationlaw.com

U.S. I-94 admission record site: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov

Connect with Amy Davies:
On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviesamy
Email: amy@first30ready.com
Visit First30's website: www.first30ready.com

HR Law Canada
Stay up-to-date with employment law news by subscribing to HR Law Canada: www.hrlawcanada.com

This podcast is produced by Storyphora, www.storyphora.com, info@storyphora.com

#amydavies #coffeenlaw

In the first episode of Coffee ’n’ Law, host Amy Davies is joined by employment lawyer Neena Gupta, Partner at Gowling WLG, to discuss key workplace law changes taking effect in 2026.

They cover several important employment law updates including: job posting requirements, the use of AI in hiring (and disclosure obligations), interview documentation and record-keeping, and return-to-office considerations. These updates apply to organizations with 25+ employees and have important compliance implications for employers and HR teams.

For a copy of the transcript of this episode, click on this link: https://first30ready.ac-page.com/cnlepisode1

Thanks to our sponsors and partners Gowling WLG and HR Law Canada.

Connect with Neena Gupta:

On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/neena-gupta-0107aa4
Email: neena.gupta@gowlingwlg.com
Visit Gowling WLG's website: www.gowlingwlg.com

Connect with Amy Davies:

On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviesamy
Email: amy@first30ready.com
Visit First30's website: www.first30ready.com

HR Law Canada

Stay up-to-date with employment law news by subscribing to HR Law Canada: www.hrlawcanada.com

This podcast is produced by Storyphora, www.storyphora.com, info@storyphora.com