Ioana Pantis

Toronto

416.865.7815

[email protected]

Expertise Automotive Employment & Labour Relations Executive Compensation

Language(s) Spoken

English
French
Romanian
Spanish

Ioana is an accomplished employment lawyer with experience in all areas of management side-employment and human rights law. Her practice involves providing advice and representation to employer clients on a broad range of issues, including employment agreements, employment standards, termination advice and strategy, wrongful dismissal litigation, human rights, and accommodation.

In addition, Ioana is able to assist clients on matters relating to workplace safety and workplace investigations.

Expertise

Industries

Automotive

Practices

Representative Matters

Corporate Transactions

Acted for Xerox Canada Holdings V Ltd. in connection with its acquisition of Powerland Computers Ltd.

News

Media Mentions

“Can employees use company resources to job search?” Canadian HRReporter (November 14, 2024)
“Amazon’s 5-day RTO mandate: sensible or short-sighted?”, Canadian HRReporter (September 24, 2024)
“Accepting another job during layoff does not constitute resignation: court”, Canadian HRReporter (May 8, 2024)
“Does the use of independent contractors save costs?”, HRD (March 15, 2024)
“Employer ordered to pay retired VP $2M including $93,000 in unused vacation time”, Canadian HR Reporter (February 15, 2024)
“The Etiquette of Terminations: Sales Exec Confronts HR Professionals in Viral TikTok Video”, HRD (January 16, 2024)
“Stay-or-Pay Clauses in Canada? Experts Weigh in on the U.S. Trend of Charging Employees who Quit”, HRD (December 1, 2023)
“Job Offer from Successor Employer before Termination Not Opportunity to Mitigate”, Canadian HRReporter (November 28, 2023)

Community Involvement

Mentor, First Generation Network (2021 – 2022)

Education & Admissions

2017

Called to the Ontario bar

2016

JD, French Common Law ProgramUniversity of Ottawa

2013

Master of Arts, Translation StudiesYork University, Glendon College

2011

Honour Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, French, and SpanishUniversity of Toronto and University of British Columbia

Publications

“Singular Belief on Vaccination is Not Discrimination”, co-author with David Fanjoy, Health Law Matters by LexisNexis, No 302 (January 2024)
“Singular Belief on Vaccination is Not Discrimination”, co-author with David Fanjoy, Labour Notes by LexisNexis, No 1721 (September 29, 2023)
“Legal Risks Associated with Automated Hiring Tools in Canada”, co-author with Robbie Grant and David Adjei, Internet and E-Commerce Law in Canada by LexisNexis, Volume 24, Number 5 (September 2023)
“Substratum What Now?! Employee Promotions May Undermine Your Written Contracts”, co-author with Paul Boshyk, Labour Notes by LexisNexis, No 1710 (April 17, 2023)
“Unmasking Employer Accommodation Obligations and Mutual Frustrations”, co-author with David Fanjoy, Labour Notes by LexisNexis, No 1681 (December 27, 2021)
“Political discourse in the workplace: Risking discrimination and alienation”, Canadian HRReporter (Feb 20, 2019)
“Rollercoaster ride of 2020 re-enforces need for employer preparedness”, co-author with Laura Williams, Canadian HRReporter (Feb 9, 2021)

Insights (23 Posts)View More

Here We Go Again: Employers Ordered to Pay $10,000 in Moral and Punitive Damages for Improper Termination Conduct

Three recent Ontario decisions reinforce the importance of proper termination protocols due to the ever-evolving risk of moral and punitive damage awards.

Nov 27, 2024

McMillan’s 2024 Employment and Labour Webinar

This program will provide an overview and discuss trending topics within the employment lifecycle and provide cross-country case law and legislative updates.

Details

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Purchaser in the Driver’s Seat: Ontario Court of Appeal Enforces Commercial Non-Compete

A recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision affirms that non-competes within a sale of business context are presumed enforceable.

Jul 9, 2024

Employee Snooping and Fireable Offences

Join our thought leaders, Ioana Pantis and Robbie Grant, on Thursday, July 18, 2024 for a practical discussion on employee snooping in the workplace.

Details

Thursday, July 18, 2024

The Customer is Always Right: Ontario Court of Appeal Upholds Dismissal for Frustration When Customer Requirements Change

Jul 3, 2024

Opa! A Reminder to Employers on the Importance of Proper Investigations

Restaurant employee awarded significant damages for employer's failure to investigate sexual harassment allegations.

Mar 26, 2024

No Constructive Dismissal for Vaccination Refusal

A recent Alberta decision affirms that an employer’s reasonable vaccination policy will be upheld.

Jan 10, 2024

Comprehensive Vacation Webinar Series | Part III: Common Claims and Risk Mitigation Strategies

This session will teach you about recent significant vacation pay claims, and we'll share our practical experiences with helping clients mitigate such claims.

Details

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Comprehensive Vacation Webinar Series | Part I: Policy and Practical Considerations

This session will provide you with basics of vacation pay and time, and discuss the various types of vacation policies that may work best for your workplace.

Details

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Singular Belief on Vaccination Is Not Discrimination

Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal rules that opposition to COVID-19 vaccination and belief in bodily autonomy are not protected by the Human Rights Code.

Aug 15, 2023

Legal Risks Associated with Automated Hiring Tools in Canada

Automated hiring and recruitment tools (AI) risk liability under privacy, human rights, or transparency laws, including Quebec's Act 25, the CPPA and AIDA.

Jul 13, 2023

Employer’s Disturbing Termination Conduct Results in $15,000 Moral Damages Award

Teljeur v Aurora Hotel Group 2023 ONSC 1324 provides example of post-termination conduct and bad faith damages.

Mar 16, 2023

Substratum What Now?! Employee Promotions May Undermine Your Written Contracts

An Ontario decision warns employers about the costly consequences of promoting employees without updating their employment agreements.

Mar 6, 2023

Prior Employee Experience May Enhance Common Law Entitlements

proper termination practices, punitive damages, moral damages, wrongful dismissal damages

Dec 7, 2022

Record-Tying General Damages Awarded by Alberta’s Human Rights Tribunal

Alberta's Human Rights Tribunal sent a strong warning to employers that behave badly by ordering one of the highest general damages awards in its history.

Oct 25, 2022

$55,000 Punitive and Moral Damages Award Underscores Importance of Proper Termination Practices

proper termination practices, punitive damages, moral damages, wrongful dismissal damages

Oct 19, 2022

New Guidance on Ontario’s Workplace Monitoring Disclosure Regime

This bulletin provides guidance regarding Ontario's new electronic monitoring disclosure obligations for employers under the Employment Standards Act.

Sep 15, 2022

The Federal Government Suspends its Mandatory Vaccination Requirements

The Government of Canada has lifted its mandatory vaccination requirements for employees in the air, marine and rail sectors.

Jun 21, 2022

Honesty is the Best Policy: Employer Punished for Misleading Employee About Sale of Business

An Ontario court has sent a strong warning to employers about the consequences of misleading their employees about the sale of a business.

May 22, 2022

Deciphering the Right to Disconnect: What does this mean for Ontario, and what could happen in other provinces?

The Ontario government passed legislation containing the “right to disconnect”. Or did they? (they didn’t). But Ontario employers with 25 or more employees have to have a policy on the right to disconnect as of June 2. How should employers approach the policy, manage employee expectations and is the rest of Canada looking to follow suit?

Join McMillan’s Employment & Labour Relations Group as we discuss the requirements of the legislation, considerations in drafting the policy and impacts for employers across the country.

Details

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Pay No Attention to the Blinking Red Light: Employee Monitoring Laws Announced in Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has released Bill 88, the Working for Workers Act, 2022, requiring employers to disclose digital employee monitoring practices.

Mar 3, 2022

Unmasking Employer Accommodation Obligations and Mutual Frustrations

Arbitration decision highlights employer's duty to accommodate in mandatory mask policy; Unifor Local 333 v Moore Packaging Corp.; frustration of employment

Dec 8, 2021

The Tide Turns: Positive Decision for Employers Seeking to Enforce Stock Agreements

A practical assessment of stock award agreements and employee acceptance for employers seeking to enforce stock award agreements.

Nov 23, 2021

Deals & Cases (2 Posts)

McMillan Successfully Defends Kubota Against Application Before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario

In December 2023, McMillan concluded its representation of Kubota Canada Ltd. against a claim before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

Dec 12, 2023

McMillan Advises Thoma Bravo in its $1.8 Billion Acquisition of Magnet Forensics Inc.

On April 6, 2023, Thoma Bravo successfully completed the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding subordinate voting shares and multiple voting shares of Magnet Forensics Inc. (“Magnet”) (TSX: MAGT) for $1.8 Billion, by way of a plan of arrangement.

Apr 6, 2023