Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017: \u00a0Approaches Changes to the Workplace – Karin Pag\u00e9, Litigation Lawyer<\/p>\n
On June 1, 2017, Ontario\u2019s legislature unanimously passed the first reading of Bill 148, an Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000<\/em>, the Labour Relations Act, 1995<\/em> and other related statutes.\u00a0 As the government hopes to implement some aspects of this new legislation effective January 1, 2018, the Bill will likely receive its final reading and Royal Assent this coming fall.<\/p>\n You have probably heard of the anticipated changes to Ontario\u2019s minimum wage. If passed, this Act proposes to increase the minimum wage for most wage-earners to $14.00 per hour as of January 1, 2018, and to $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2019. Note that a different minimum wage applies for students under 18 years of age, employees who serve liquor (and who receive tips), hunting and fishing guides, and homeworkers.<\/p>\n In addition, there are other proposed changes that may also significantly affect your workplace and the enforceability of any employment agreements that may currently be in place. Written employment agreements can be a useful tool to limit an employer\u2019s liability if they choose to dismiss one or more employees in the absence of just cause. However, such agreements should be reviewed from time to time to ensure they remain compliant notwithstanding the evolving state of the law.<\/p>\n If this legislation is implemented, there may very well be some terms and conditions in your present employment agreements and\/or policies that will be inconsistent with the new minimum employment standards and may put the enforceability of your employment agreement at risk.<\/p>\n In addition to the anticipated changes to the minimum wage, other significant proposed changes include:<\/p>\n Bill 148 would also permit employees (after 3 months of employment) to submit a request, in writing, to their employer requesting changes to their schedule or work location. While the employer is not mandated to grant the request, it must discuss the request with the employee and notify the employee of its decision within a reasonable time after receiving it, and if denied, the employer must provide reasons for its denial.<\/p>\n The new legislation also proposes to extend family medical leave, child death leave, and crime-related child disappearance leave to up to 104 weeks\u2019 unpaid leave.<\/p>\n Undoubtedly, this proposed legislation, if it is passed in the coming months as anticipated, will have a profound impact on many workplaces.<\/p>\n\n
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