Lawyer Profile
André Sasseville
Montréal, Québec
Overview
André Sasseville has had a passion for labour and employment law his entire career. Various businesses seek his help in interpreting collective agreements and making various HR management changes, including collective layoffs, mergers and restructurings. He gives strategic advice and advocates for a wide variety of employers, particularly in collective bargaining and labour dispute cases, where he educates clients on how bargaining committees are structured and helps them set up contingency plans. He negotiates and drafts executive employment contracts, and develops incentive programs, bonus plans, stock option programs, and supplementary pension plans. This extensive experience also makes him a skilled crisis manager who can intervene effectively in urgent matters with potentially major consequences for a firm.
In cooperation with his network of Québec, Canadian and North American law practitioners, he often advises foreign businesses on transfers, acquisitions and sales of businesses with large numbers of employees. He is particularly skilled in negotiating facilitating conditions for executives (golden parachutes, retention bonuses, etc.) and in designing prevention strategies.
When dealing with disputes, André strives for effective and advantageous solutions. He is a certified mediator, and has developed and implemented effective conflict prevention and resolution methods, particularly with respect to interpersonal conflicts and psychological harassment in the workplace. He is a member of a select group of mediators who use the partnering method to resolve conflicts affecting groups of employees.
André has an impressive track record when it comes to representing employers before provincial and federal labour relations boards in various matters, including union organizing, union raids, and suits for alleged unlawful termination. He regularly pleads cases at trial and on appeal and has handled hundreds of disputes involving employment practices, pension plans, fiduciary duties, and directors’ liability.
Boasting many years of experience as a lecturer and training instructor, he offers clients made-to-measure business training programs on a range of HR management, conflict prevention, and labour relations topics.
Key practice areas: Labour and Employment Law, Labour Relations, Strategic HR Advice, Employment Law, Education Law.
Québec Bar 1979
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 1979 (QC)
Professional Details
Education
Two years of study toward a Master’s degree in Social and Labour Law, 1979
LL.B., Université de Montréal, 1977
Awards & Recognition
Chambers Canada – Employment & Labour, Québec, 2018-2026
Canadian Legal Lexpert Direcory:
Employment Law (Employer), 2017-2018, 2020-2021 and 2024-2026
Labour Relations (Management), 2020 and 2025
Benchmark Litigation Canada:
Litigation Star, 2019-2026
Local Litigation Star, 2017-2018
Best Lawyers in Canada :
Labour and Employment Law, 2016-2026
Workers’ Compensation Law, 2026
Articles & Speeches
Author: “ Does the academic freedom bill add value? ”, April 20, 2022.
Co-author: Le droit du travail [Employment law], 8th edition, Éditions Yvon Blais, March 2, 2022.
Author: “ The Ocean Nutrition case: An employee is entitled to his incentive plan throughout the notice period ”, October 15, 2020.
Co-author: “ Will all your employees be needed when businesses reopen? If not, the legal framework for collective dismissals should be considered ”, May 8, 2020.
Author: “ Adoption and Coming into Force of the Act to Amend the Act Respecting Labour Standards ”, June 26, 2018.
Author: “L’intelligence artificielle et ses impacts sur la gestion des ressources humaines” [Artificial intelligence and its impact on human resource management], 2017.
Co-author: “L’employé sonneur d’alarme dans la lutte contre la corruption: outil efficace ou obstacle à la gestion des ressources humaines?” [Whistleblower employees in the fight against corruption: effective tool or obstacle for human resources management], Développements récents en droit du travail, Service de la formation continue, Barreau du Québec, Éditions Yvon Blais, 2017.
Author: “ Psychological Harassment, Boon or Bane: How to Interact With the CNESST? ”, June 2, 2017.
Author: “Rapports collectifs de travail : les disparités de traitement envers les salariés des nouvelles générations” [Collective labour relations and new generations of employees], 2016.
Co-author: “Unionization Campaigns: How Can an Employer Play its Role Without Running Afoul of The Labour Code Commandments?”, February 4, 2014.
Author: “ Theft or Fraud by an Employee: Management Rights and Legal Action ”, January 14, 2014.
Co-author: Le droit du travail du Québec [Québec labour law], 7th edition, Éditions Yvon Blais, August 8, 2013.
Author: “ Can an Employer Waive a Prior Notice of Termination of Employment Given by an Employee? ”, April 30, 2013.
Co-speaker: La flexibilité des lieux et des horaires de travail à l’ère postpandémique [Workplace flexibility and flexible working hours in the post-pandemic era], Langlois Knowledge, webinar, January 26, 2023.
Speaker: Télétravail et ressources humaines : tout ce que vous devez savoir [Teleworking and human resources: everything you need to know], organized by Onit, webinar, March 24, 2020.
Co-speaker: Les devoirs de l’employeur en matière de harcèlement : quels sont les derniers développements? [What are the latest developments with regards to the employer’s obligations when it comes to harassment?], as part of the workshop series Droit du travail et de l’emploi 2019-2020, Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, December 17, 2019.
Co-speaker: Les meilleures pratiques d’une gestion efficace des employés difficiles [Best practices for effective management of difficult employees], as part of the Colloque 2019 – Droit du travail et de l’emploi : composer avec des personnalités atypiques , Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, February 26, 2019.
Guest speaker: La pénurie de main-d’oeuvre et ses répercussions sur la gestion des ressources humaines et le droit du travail [The scarcity of labour and its impacts on human resources management and employment law], as part of the annual convention of Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines du Québec, 2018.
Co-speaker: Le droit à la déconnexion [The right to disconnect], as part of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines annual convention, organized by the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines du Québec, October 24, 2018.
Co-speaker: Harcèlement psychologique : vers l’infini et plus loin encore [Psychological harassment: to infinity and beyond], as part of the workshop series 360 o de l’emploi, Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, October 18, 2017.
Co-speaker: L’entreprise et la pénurie de personnel [The company and staff shortages], Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, October 12, 2018.
Co-speaker: Vivre une syndicalisation : savoir la prévenir, conjuguer avec un syndicat et même en tirer parti [Dealing with a campaign for union certification: How to prevent it, or how to come to terms with and even benefit from it], as part of the workshop series Droit du travail et de l’emploi 2018, Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, October 11, 2018.
Guest speaker: L’employé sonneur d’alarme dans la lutte contre la corruption: outil efficace ou obstacle à la gestion des ressources humaines [The whistleblower employee in the fight against corruption: an effective tool or an obstacle to human], Recent developments in labour law, Barreau du Québec, 2017.
Animator and co-speaker: Le devoir de loyauté et les clauses restrictives : une mise à jour [Employment law, former employee’s obligation of loyalty, and protection of business secrets], Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, May 25, 2017.
Co-speaker: Astuces, réflexes et bonnes pratiques dans la gestion des dossiers de harcèlement psychologique [Tips, reflexes and best practices for managing psychological harassment cases], as part of the Colloque de droit du travail et de l’emploi : 360 o de l'emploi , Langlois Knowledge, Québec City, February 13, 2017, and Montréal, February 21, 2017.
Animator and co-speaker: Récents développements et jugements récents sur les clauses de non-concurrence et le devoir de loyauté de l’ex-employé [Recent developments and judgments on non-competition clauses and the ex-employee's duty of loyalty], as part of the lunch and learn Droit de l’emploi, obligation de loyauté de l’ex-employé et protection des secrets d’entreprise , organized by Langlois Lawyers in collaboration with Perreault Conseil, Montréal, September 29, 2016.
Speaker: Les rapports collectifs de travail et les nouvelles générations [Workplace relations and the new generations], as part of the Colloque de droit du travail et de l’emploi : le choc des générations sur le marché du travail , Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, February 16, 2016.
Co-speaker: Le grief syndical et l’abus de droit [Union grievances and abuse of rights], dans le cadre du Colloque de droit du travail et de l’emploi , Langlois Knowledge, Québec, February 10, 2015, and Montréal, February 17, 2015.
Guest speaker: conference on employer communications with employees during a union certification campaign, as part of the Rendez-vous Relations au travail, Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, 2014.
Speaker: Communiquer utilement avec ses employés syndiqués dans les moments cruciaux [Communicate effectively with unionized employees at crucial times], as part of the Rendez-vous Relations du travail, Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, Montréal, December 3, 2014.
Co-speaker: Maraudage syndical : comment l’employeur peut-il jouer son rôle sans transgresser les interdictions au Code du travail? [Union raiding: how can employers play their part without violating the Labour Code?], as part of the Colloque de droit du travail et de l’emploi , Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, February 4, 2014.
Co-speaker: Le vol ou la fraude d’un employé : exercice des droits de gérance et recours judiciaires [Theft or fraud by an employee: Management rights and legal action], Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, January 14, 2014, and Québec, January 22, 2014.
Moderator: panel discussion on the virtual workplace, as part of the annual convention of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, 2012.
Co-speaker: Aiguisez vos habiletés de négociation pour favoriser une gestion humaine rentable et efficace de vos dossiers en assurance invalidité [Sharpen your negotiating skills to achieve more effective, efficient and economic management of your disability insurance files], as part of The Canadian Institute convention, 2011.
Speaker: Rôle du gestionnaire dans le contexte d’une négociation de convention collective [The role of the manager in negotiating collective agreements], as part of the training program of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, 2010.
Co-speaker: Les nouveaux moyens de communication : des outils pour l’entreprise ou un mal à réprouver [New means of communication: useful business tools or an evil to be shunned?], as part of the annual convention of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, 2009.
Speaker: Mise à jour de la jurisprudence en matière de harcèlement psychologique [Case law update on psychological harassment], as part of the annual symposium on psychological harassment of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, 2006 and 2007.
Speaker: Quand un accident engendre la responsabilité criminelle de l’entreprise et de ses dirigeants [When an accident triggers criminal liability on the part of the company and its management], for the Regroupement des universités québécoises and Aon Parizeau Inc., 2005.
Speaker: Le harcèlement psychologique : définition et application [Psychological harassment: definition and application], for the members and staff of the Commission des relations du travail du Québec, 2005.
Speaker: Négociation raisonnée : les approches souhaitées et le rôle des membres de l’équipe patronale [Reasoned negotiation: preferred approaches and role of the employer’s team members], for the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, 2005.
Lecturer: Comment conclure une fin d’emploi ; La gestion disciplinaire : loyauté, compétence, assiduité [Disciplinary management: loyalty, competence, presenteeism; Improve your labour relations through reasoned negotiating] and Améliorez vos relations du travail par la négociation raisonnée [How to terminate the employment relationship], as part of the continuing education program of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, since 2004.
Speaker: La gestion disciplinaire au quotidien : une approche proactive et engageante [Day-to-day disciplinary management: a proactive and winning approach], for the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, 2004.
Speaker: L’équité salariale – urgence d’agir [Pay equity – urgent action required], for the Université du Québec, 2004.
Speaker: Le licenciement collectif [Collective dismissal], for Insight, 2004.
Speaker: Symposium on psychological harassment in the workplace: rights, obligations and remedies, for the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, 2004.