Workplace discrimination lawyer
in Ontario
Treated unfairly at work because of who you are? Advice for employees in Ontario on discrimination, the duty to accommodate and Human Rights Tribunal applications, online by video or phone.
Initial consultation free for employment and human rights matters.
Ontario's Human Rights Code protects employees from discrimination and harassment because of grounds such as race, creed, sex, disability, age and family status. It applies from the job posting and interview through pay, promotion, discipline and termination, and to the day-to-day treatment of employees. Lutfi Law helps employees understand whether what happened may be covered, what the duty to accommodate means, and how an application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario works.
What we can do for you
Discrimination advice
We explain whether what happened may be covered by the Code, and what the options are.
More about severance reviews →Accommodation
Requests and responses for disability, religious observance, pregnancy and family status accommodation.
More about wrongful dismissal →HRTO applications
We prepare and file applications to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and represent you at mediation and hearing.
How a consultation works
You book
Choose a time online, or email us. You don't need any documents yet, and nothing you send at this stage is a commitment.
We run a conflict check
A lawyer can't act for both sides of the same dispute. So before we hear the details, we confirm we haven't acted for the other party, such as your employer or the school. It's a short check, and we email you as soon as it's done.
Your consultation
By video or phone. You tell us what happened. We listen, then explain your options in plain language. Ask anything.
You decide
If you'd like more help, we explain the cost before any work starts, in writing. If not, there's no obligation and no charge.
Protected grounds at work
In employment, the Code protects against discrimination and harassment based on these grounds:
- Race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship and creed (religion)
- Sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
- Age, disability, record of offences, and family or marital status
What discrimination can look like
Discrimination can be direct or subtle: being refused a job or promotion, being paid or treated differently, being harassed, or being denied accommodation you need because of a protected ground. A protected ground does not have to be the only reason for the treatment. It is enough if it was one of the factors.
The duty to accommodate
Employers must accommodate needs related to protected grounds, such as disability, religious observance, pregnancy or family caregiving, up to the point of undue hardship. Accommodation is a shared process: you explain your needs, and your employer works with you to meet them. Undue hardship is a high standard, and the Code looks at cost, outside sources of funding, and health and safety.
Applications and time limits
An application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario must generally be filed within one year of the last incident. Many matters settle through negotiation or mediation, faster and more privately. A court can also consider a Human Rights Code claim when it is part of another claim, such as a wrongful dismissal action, but not on its own.
Penalizing someone for raising a human rights concern or taking part in a claim can be a reprisal, which the Code prohibits.
Many people find it helpful to keep a record of what happened, when, and who was involved, along with any emails, messages or medical notes that relate to an accommodation request. These records help a lawyer assess the options.
Related: Human rights · Human rights at work (guide) · Workplace harassment
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed: October 2026 · Lutfi Law
Common questions
Still unsure? Our assistant can answer general questions any time.
Ask the AI assistantWhat counts as discrimination at work in Ontario?
Unfair treatment in employment based on a protected ground under the Human Rights Code, such as race, creed, sex, disability, age or family status. It can include refusing to hire or promote, unequal pay or treatment, harassment, or a failure to accommodate.
Does my employer have to accommodate me?
Employers must accommodate needs related to protected grounds up to the point of undue hardship. Accommodation is a two-way process.
Is there a deadline to file with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario?
Generally, an application must be filed within one year of the last incident.
Can I be let go for asking for accommodation?
Penalizing someone for asserting their rights under the Code can be a reprisal. A termination linked to a protected ground, or to an accommodation request, may also be discrimination.
Do I need proof that discrimination was intended?
No. The Code looks at the effect of the treatment, not only intent. A protected ground needs to be one of the factors, not the only one.
What can the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario order?
If it finds discrimination, the Tribunal can order compensation, including for lost income and for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect, and can order an employer to take steps, such as changing a policy. What is ordered depends on the facts of each case.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. Initial consultation free for employment and human rights matters.
Terminated in Ontario? 5 things to do before you sign.
A one-page checklist to keep nearby before you make any decisions. Free to download, no email needed.
General information, not legal advice.
