On January 1, 2018, Ontario’s minimum wage increased from $11.60 per hour to $14.00 per hour. This surge to $14.00 per hour will be followed by a subsequent jump to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2019. Here are a few other changes that you should know about.
The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act
The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act was passed on November 22, 2017. This legislation makes a number of changes to previous employment standards, labour relations, and occupational health and safety act.
The main change with this new legislation is the raise in Ontario’s minimum wage. However, there’s a few more changes that this legislation brings.
What Else Can I Expect?
So, you’ve hired the right people for your business, but what will January 1, 2018, mean for you, as an employer? And if you’re an employee, what can you expect?
Aside from the minimum wage increase across Ontario, the following provisions are also being rolled out in the new year:
- Three Weeks of Vacation After Five Years with the Same Employer;
- Public Holiday Pay;
- Personal Emergency Leave;
- Domestic or Sexual Violence Leave;
- Pregnancy Leave;
- Family Medical Leave;
- Child Death Leave Replaces Crime-Related Child Death Leave; and
- Crime-Related Child Disappearance Leave.
For more details regarding these new provisions, please visit the Government of Ontario website. Please note that some changes come into effect at different times of the year.
These changes all help safeguard the rights of workers and gives them a level of stability that they perhaps may not have had under the previous employment standards. If you are an employer, it’s important that you stay in compliance. It’s also imperative that workers understand these new legislations.
If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to experts like Liberty Staffing, who can guide you through these changes in minimum wage, as well as help you navigate the changes to employment standards.
