5. Read your employer’s response

If you’re going to have a consultation or hearing with the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB), your employer has the right to send their version of what happened to the OLRB. This is called “filing a response”.

They do this using the blank forms you sent them and they may include some other documents as well. You will get a copy of what they send.

You must receive your employer’s response at least 21 days before your consultation or hearing. If you don’t get it, you should contact the OLRB.

Read your employer’s response. They may say that things happened differently than what you said. They may use a lot of legal terms and talk about how the law applies to what happened

You should think about what you want to say at the consultation or hearing and what evidence or proof you will need to show what happened.

Get legal advice

If you need help, or if your employer talks a lot about the law in their response, you should try to get some legal advice.

A lawyer can give you advice about the law, fill out your application, and represent you in your hearing.

The Law Society Referral Service can give you the name of a lawyer or paralegal you can consult with for free, for up to 30 minutes.

JusticeNet is a program for Canadians with low or moderate incomes. It connects people with lawyers and paralegals who charge lower legal fees based on your income.

You could also contact the Workers’ Health & Safety Legal Clinic, which helps people with low incomes who are having health and safety problems at work.