Water Cooler Justice

Chris Robertson
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Employment lawyer, Chris Robertson and a rotation of special guests dissect stories of workplace drama and determine a fair outcome. The arguments and chatter may be juicier than the stories themselves. We hope you find these conversations entertaining, informative, and indulgent. Hosted on Riverside. See https://riverside.com/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. Jun 4

    Williamson v Brandt Tractor Inc. with Neena Gupta and Ellen Low

    “Employment income earned during the notice period is generally to be treated as mitigation of loss”. Join employment law leaders Nina Gupta, Ellen Lowe and Chris Robertson as they delve into the pivotal Williamson v. Brandt Tractor case, reshaping our understanding of mitigation and wrongful termination payments. Discover why the evidentiary threshold for just cause is challenging, how recent case law impacts mitigation earnings, and the strategic importance of managing notice periods. This episode offers essential insights for employment lawyers, HR professionals, and business owners navigating the evolving legal landscape. Don't miss this insightful breakdown.

    49 min

  2. May 6

    Kirchmair v. EXP Global Inc. with Matthew Dewar and Barry Fisher

    Barry Fisher and Matthew Dewar join Chris Robertson and Sarah Goodenough to discuss Kirchmair v EXP Global Inc. This episode dives into a high stakes, alleged constructive dismissal and offers a nuanced analysis on issues surrounding contractual termination provisions, various bonus structures, damages tied to incentive compensation, and when employer conduct crosses the threshold into moral and punitive liability. Is there a case you would like to hear us talk about? Do you have a story of workplace drama you would like to share with our panel? Reach out to us at watercoolerjustice@gmail.com.

    29 min

  3. Apr 14

    The Off-Cycle Link Between the Canadian Job Market and Court Decisions

    Chris and Sarah sit down with special guest, Rich Dias to explore the fascinating intersection of macroeconomics with wrongful dismissal disputes. From the famous Bardal factors and reasonable notice periods, to unemployment rates and economic cycles - this episode truly has it all. Whether you're an employment lawyer, an economics nerd, or simply a curious mind drawn to the unexpected overlap between two seemingly distinct worlds - this one's for you! Rich is a global macro strategist with over 15 years of experience working for institutions in both Canada and the U.K. He is also a co-host on the Loonie Hour - a podcast dedicated to breaking down Canadian and global economics. Currently he is based in Montreal with IceCap Asset Management as a Global Strategist.

    49 min
  4. Wigdor v. Facebook and Liggett v. Veeva with Ellen Low and Sean Bawden

    Feb 12

    Wigdor v. Facebook and Liggett v. Veeva with Ellen Low and Sean Bawden

    "Two compensation schemes that look almost identical on paper can lead to wildly different outcomes.” Chris Robertson and Sarah Goodenough are joined by employment lawyers Ellen Low and Sean Bawden to unpack the murky and increasingly high-stakes world of restricted stock units (RSUs). In this episode, the panel compares Wigdor v. Facebook Canada and Liggett v. Veeva Software System, two recent Ontario cases involving equity compensation, termination, and notice, with sharply divergent results. The conversation explores why RSUs continue to sit in a legal grey zone, how courts are navigating the tension between the Employment Standards Act and common law reasonable notice, and why precise drafting (or the lack of it) can mean the difference between forfeiting millions or recovering vested compensation. The panel also debates whether RSUs should be treated as wages or benefits, the role of good faith and discretion in forfeiture decisions, and what these cases signal for employers and employees alike as equity-based compensation becomes more common. Is there a case you'd like to hear us talk about? Do you have a story you'd like to share with our panel? Reach out to us at: watercoolerjustice@gmail.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  5. Chan v. NYX Capital Corp with Ellen Low and Matthew Dewar

    10/14/2025

    Chan v. NYX Capital Corp with Ellen Low and Matthew Dewar

    Ellen Low and Matthew Dewar join Chris Robertson and Sarah Goodenough to discuss Chan v. NYX Capital Corp. This case explores the limits of probationary employment and what happens when employers attempt to contract out of the Employment Standards Act. The panel dives into the meaning and implications of the phrase “at any time for any reason” in termination clauses, and why small drafting choices can make or break enforceability. With a mix of humour and technical insight, they reveal how two simple words, “legally permissible”, might be the key to getting it right. Is there a case you'd like to hear us talk about? Do you have a story you'd like to share with our panel? Reach out to us at: watercoolerjustice@gmail.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  6. Kondaj v. Crossbridge with Barry Fisher and Robert Richler

    09/09/2025

    Kondaj v. Crossbridge with Barry Fisher and Robert Richler

    "The toughest cases in the world to predict the outcome are short service people. There’s no other word for it, they’re just a complete and utter mess." Barry Fisher and Robert Richler join Chris Robertson to discuss Kondaj v. Crossbridge Condominiums. In this episode, the panel unpacks the complexities of determining reasonable notice for short-service employees and explores whether notice functions as an objective calculation, a bridge to re-employment, or simply a judicial “crapshoot.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  7. Preston v. Cervus Equipment Corporation and Bertsch vs. Datastealth Inc. with Matthew Fisher and Matthew Certosimo

    04/23/2025

    Preston v. Cervus Equipment Corporation and Bertsch vs. Datastealth Inc. with Matthew Fisher and Matthew Certosimo

    "We have put all this work in and none of it will matter if the decimal is in the wrong place, or the release has two extra words we didn't notice." Matthew Fisher and Matthew Certosimo join Chris Robertson and Sarah Goodenough to discuss Preston v. Cervus Equipment Corporation and Bertsch v. Datastealth Inc. The common theme in these two cases is that employment law is not as unfair to employers as it is often alleged. It is, rather, a heavily technical process for both sides. Both these cases show that the devil is truly in the details. Is there a case you'd like to hear us talk about? Do you have a story you'd like to share with our panel? Reach out to us at: watercoolerjustice@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  8. Galea v. Wal-Mart with Muneeza Sheikh and Ellen Low

    03/11/2025

    Galea v. Wal-Mart with Muneeza Sheikh and Ellen Low

    "Do you think that awards are going up? Or do they seem stuck?" Muneeza Sheikh and Ellen Low join Chris Robertson and Sarah Goodenough to discuss Galea v. Walmart. Here, the topic of punitive damages in the world of employment law is described in length, and the panel talks about the implications damages might have in cases with larger corporate wrongdoers. Additionally, the panel gets into the reasoning behind why awards may differ dramatically on a case to case basis. Is there a case you’d like to hear us talk about? Do you have a story you’d like to share with our panel? Reach out to us at: watercoolerjustice@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
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Trailer

About

Employment lawyer, Chris Robertson and a rotation of special guests dissect stories of workplace drama and determine a fair outcome. The arguments and chatter may be juicier than the stories themselves. We hope you find these conversations entertaining, informative, and indulgent. Hosted on Riverside. See https://riverside.com/privacy-policy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Robertson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Chris Robertson
  • Show Website
    Water Cooler Justice

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