Coffee ’n’ Law is an employment law–focused podcast that delivers timely, relevant workplace law insights in an engaging, accessible format. Each episode covers a specific topic HR professionals and business leaders need to understand, without being overly technical or academic.
This week on Coffee ‘n’ Law, host Amy Davies welcomes labour & employment lawyer Janine Liberatore to delve into workplace performance reviews. Janine and Amy discuss how a performance review should never surprise the employee, and whether performance reviews are required by law. Janine also sheds light on the relationship between performance reviews and merit increases, how reviews serve as worthwhile documentation to justify employee terminations, and...
16 Sept 2026
How Organizations Can Disincentivize Workplace Misconduct
In this episode of Coffee ‘n’ Law, host and First30 CEO Amy Davies speaks with KPMG workplace law Partner Jessica Kearsey about preventing and addressing misconduct in the workplace. Amy and Jessica discuss workplace harassment prevention, including employers’ obligations to have policies prohibiting workplace violence and harassment. They also look at how workplace harassment regulation has evolved, moving from a discretionary approach to investigations toward mandatory investigation requir...
26 Aug 2026
Layoffs and Terminations: What Every Employer Should Know
In this episode of Coffee ’n’ Law, Amy Davies, founder of First30, speaks with employment lawyer Ashley Brown of Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP about what employers need to consider when planning layoffs, employee terminations and workplace restructuring. They discuss terminating employees who are on sick leave, short-term disability or parental leave, choosing objective criteria during a reduction in force, avoiding constructive dismissal when changing a role and calculating termination...
12 Aug 2026
Why Employees Unionize: Labour Law & What Employers Need to Know
This week on Coffee ‘n’ Law, a podcast from First30 for HR leaders and employers, host Amy Davies welcomes Peter W. Vlaar, founder and principal lawyer at In Good Counsel, to discuss unions, labour law and employee relations in Canadian workplaces. What’s the difference between labour law and employment law? Peter breaks down the distinction and explains what HR leaders and employers need to understand about unionized and non-unionized workplaces. Amy and Peter also explore why employees ch...
29 Jul 2026
Parental Leave
Seabrook Workplace Law founder, Samantha Seabrook, makes her debut on Coffee ‘n’ Law to speak with Amy Davies of First30 about parental leave. As both an HR practitioner and an employment lawyer, Samantha has unique expertise. Parental leave has changed significantly over the past few years, and it will continue to change in the years to come. It’s an important topic for HR to track, and this episode is a great place to get started. Connect with Samantha Seabrook: On LinkedIn: ...
8 Jul 2026
Conversations That Can Get You Fired!
Gowling WLG partner and employment lawyer Neena Gupta returns to Coffee ‘n’ Law to discuss workplace communications that can result in termination. Neena outlines the importance of determining context in communication, and how because comments can be linked to culture, they may be acceptable in some workplaces and not others. Neena also touches on the specific areas of workplace communications that HR should be very careful about. And with respect to written communication, she provides ...
24 Jun 2026
HR in the Age of AI: Managing People, Performance and Risk
SpringLaw Managing Partner Lisa Stam joins First30's Amy Davies to discuss the widespread implications of AI on people management, performance evaluation, and the very real opportunities and risks it can create. Adopting AI means organizations need an up-to-date AI policy, and you might be surprised how often Lisa recommends updating this document to keep up with the rapid pace of change! HR must prepare now for the future of AI in the workplace, and Lisa shares her thoughts on what that req...
10 Jun 2026
Employee Monitoring
Gowling WLG's Neena Gupta returns to Coffee ’n’ Law to discuss the complex topic of employee monitoring. Neena and host Amy Davies explore what constitutes electronic monitoring in today's workplaces, from key fobs and GPS tracking to keystroke monitoring and workplace cameras. They also discuss employers' obligations to disclose these practices to employees. The conversation covers audio recordings in the workplace, employee surveys, and AI-powered workplace tools, all areas wh...
27 May 2026
Pay Equity
Ontario Pay Equity Commissioner and CEO Kadie Philp joins First30 CEO Amy Davies in this episode of Coffee ’n’ Law for an insightful discussion on pay equity, workplace compliance, and the importance of proactive HR practices. Amy and Kadie explore how the Pay Equity Office identifies high-risk sectors, what can trigger investigations or complaints, and why maintaining strong documentation and compensation records is essential for organizations of all sizes. Kadie also explains how employers ...
6 May 2026
Accommodations: When Do Employers Need to Accommodate?
Gowling WLG partner Neena Gupta returns to Coffee ‘n’ Law this week to explore what employer accommodation means from a legal perspective. Neena and host Amy Davies discuss how accommodations can exist in many forms, from modified duties and adjusted schedules to leaves of absence, and why the process requires thoughtful analysis, collaboration, and documentation. The conversation also covers common and evolving accommodation requests, including work-from-home arrangements, and Neena explains...
22 Apr 2026
Dismissals Demystified: With Cause, Without Cause and Constructive Dismissal
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 ...
8 Apr 2026
Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace
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.  ...
24 Mar 2026
Workplace Investigations: When and How to Run Workplace Investigations
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...
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 outd...
18 Feb 2026
Crossing the U.S. Border with Gabriella Agostinelli
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 ...
4 Feb 2026
The Employment Law Changes HR Can’t Ignore in 2026
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 im...
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