Episodes

  • Performance Reviews
    Oct 7 2026

    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 what happens when an employee wants to appeal a performance review.

    This conversation will be worthwhile for HR professionals and leaders seeking to understand the responsibilities and requirements involved in delivering performance reviews.

    About Coffee ‘n’ Law

    Hosted by Amy Davies, Founder and CEO of First30, Coffee ‘n’ Law brings HR and legal experts together for candid conversations about the workplace issues HR leaders and employers are navigating today.

    First30 is a Canadian HR solutions provider offering outplacement and career transition services, employee onboarding technology, onboarding programs, retention and employee engagement solutions, and workforce planning support.

    Coffee ‘n’ Law is produced by Storyphora.

    Connect with Janine Liberatore:

    On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janineliberatore/
    Email: janine@zfllaw.ca
    Visit the Zubas Flett Liberatore website: https://www.employment-lawyers.ca/

    Connect with Amy Davies:

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

    Download First30's Outplacement Brochure with Pricing:

    www.first30ready.com/brochure

    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 #janineliberatore #coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #workplacelaw

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    39 mins
  • How Organizations Can Disincentivize Workplace Misconduct
    Sep 16 2026

    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 requirements.

    Jessica also shares what she sees across workplace harassment cases and the similarities that can exist across very different work environments, whether white collar, blue collar or otherwise.

    A worthwhile conversation for HR professionals, leaders and employers looking to better understand their responsibilities and create workplaces where misconduct is less likely to occur.

    About Coffee ‘n’ Law

    Hosted by Amy Davies, Founder and CEO of First30, Coffee ‘n’ Law brings HR and legal experts together for candid conversations about the workplace issues HR leaders and employers are navigating today.

    First30 is a Canadian HR solutions provider offering outplacement and career transition services, employee onboarding technology, onboarding programs, retention and employee engagement solutions, and workforce planning support.

    Coffee ‘n’ Law is produced by Storyphora.

    Connect with Jessica Kearsey:

    On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-kearsey-9bb99791/
    Email: jkearsey@kpmg.ca
    Visit the KPMG website: www.kpmg.com

    Connect with Amy Davies:

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

    Download First30's Outplacement Brochure with Pricing:

    www.first30ready.com/brochure

    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 #jessicakearsey #coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #workplacelaw

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    39 mins
  • Layoffs and Terminations: What Every Employer Should Know
    Aug 26 2026

    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 and severance pay in Ontario. Ashley also explains how outplacement services can reduce risk and help exiting employees move forward.

    A timely conversation for employers and HR leaders managing difficult workforce decisions.

    About Coffee ‘n’ Law

    Hosted by Amy Davies, Founder and CEO of First30, Coffee ‘n’ Law brings HR and legal experts together for candid conversations about the workplace issues HR leaders and employers are navigating today.

    First30 is a Canadian HR solutions provider offering outplacement and career transition services, employee onboarding technology, onboarding programs, retention and employee engagement solutions, and workforce planning support.

    Coffee ‘n’ Law is produced by Storyphora.

    Connect with Ashley Brown:

    On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-brown-95718a45/
    Email: abrown@filionlaw.com
    Visit the Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti website: www.cswan.com

    Connect with Amy Davies:

    On LinkedIn: www.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 #ashleybrown #coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #workplacelaw #labourlaw #layoffs #terminations

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    36 mins
  • Parental Leave
    Jul 29 2026

    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: www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-seabrook-1a6a213b/
    Email: samantha@swl.ca
    Visit Seabrook Workplace Law’s website: www.seabrookworkplacelaw.ca

    Connect with Amy Davies:

    On LinkedIn: www.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 #samanthaseabrook #coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #workplacelaw #parentalleave

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    42 mins
  • Conversations That Can Get You Fired!
    Jul 8 2026

    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 very specific advice that we could all benefit from following.

    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 #employeemonitoring #privacy

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    39 mins
  • HR in the Age of AI: Managing People, Performance and Risk
    Jun 24 2026

    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 requires.

    Connect with Lisa Stam:
    On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastam/
    Email: lstam@springlaw.ca
    Visit Spring Law's website:
    www.canadaemploymenthumanrightslaw.com (Blog)
    www.springlaw.ca (Company)

    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 #lisastam #coffeenlaw #employmentlaw #HRleaders #workplacelaw #workplaceai

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    37 mins
  • Employee Monitoring
    Jun 10 2026

    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 where Human Resources professionals and employers need to stay informed as workplace laws continue to evolve alongside advances in technology and artificial intelligence.

    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 #employeemonitoring #privacy

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    42 mins