Ministry of Labour

Ministry of Labour inspections

October 9, 2019 Lisa Stam, Spring Law Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Pensions and Benefits, Wages and Compensation, 0

The Ministry of Labour has been busy implementing its Healthy and Safe Ontario Workplaces Strategy. Introduced by the previous Wynne government, the initiative has focused on small Ontario industrial businesses. A small business is one with fewer than 50 workers.

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Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario: the “Code” matters, not social norms

March 26, 2018 Kevin Sambrano, Sambrano Legal Services Human Resources, Human Rights

Although there may be social norms at play, a business owner would do well to continue to update and implement workplace and human rights policies on an ongoing basis, otherwise, they may be liable for any breach of the “Code”, whether intended or otherwise.

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Top 10 employment law developments in 2017

December 5, 2017 Doug MacLeod, MacLeod Law Firm Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Integrated Accessibility Regulation, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Standard for Customer Service, Standard for Employment, Standard for Information and Communications, Standard for the Built Environment, Standard for Transportation

In 2017, the provincial legislature and Ontario judges continued to change Ontario’s employment laws. These changes resulted in higher payroll costs and a more regulated workplace. This blog briefly identifies 10 employment law developments from the past year.

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WHMIS 2015 inspections starting October 1, 2017 – Are you ready?

August 31, 2017 Beyond Rewards Inc Health and Safety, Human Resources, Training and Development

From October 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, federal Hazardous Products Act Officers from several provincial or territorial occupational health and safety branches will be conducting WHMIS 2015 inspections with select employers and suppliers in federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions workplaces to promote promote compliance with WHMIS 2015 requirements.

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Update: Ontario Liberals announce changes to labour law—and a $15 minimum wage

July 14, 2017 Devry Smith Frank LLP Announcements and Administration, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Government Budgets, Throne Speeches and Plans, Human Resources, Payroll, Wages and Compensation

While rumours of a $15 minimum wage have been swirling around since the past month, the announcement comes as part of the Ontario Liberal’s bigger campaign to protect vulnerable workers. The announcement also confirmed the rumours that annual vacation pay will be rising from two weeks to three weeks for employees that have worked at their jobs for at least five years.

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What to do when the MOL comes calling

May 9, 2017 Doug MacLeod, MacLeod Law Firm Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Penalties and Fines

This blog discusses a group of orders that a MOL inspector recently imposed on a small employer after an employee complained that she had been harassed at work.

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Preparing for interactions with the MOL: Workplace visits

April 21, 2017 Beyond Rewards Inc Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Penalties and Fines, Training and Development, Union Relations

How do we prepare for a visit form a MOL inspector? The easiest and best way is to be prepared for the visit. Employers can no longer simply go merrily along and not put in place plans and programs to ensure the safety of all their employees. Remember, it is not “if and Inspector will walk through the door, It is when”. It will happen!

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Busting myths about employments standards: What employers need to know about overtime and vacation

October 7, 2016 Rudner Law, Employment / HR Law & Mediation Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

When it comes to employment standards legislation, employers must remember that just because an employee agrees to something, that does not make it lawful. More importantly, parties cannot contract out of employment standards requirements, and employers that breach employment standards legislation expose themselves to significant risk, even if the employee in question appears to have acquiesced. This often arises when it comes to overtime or vacation.

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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

August 11, 2016 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Source Deductions and Reporting, Training and Development, Union Relations

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with: employment agreements that are signed after employees start work; how employers can prepare for the CPP expansion; Ontario Ministry of Labour’s interim report on the current labour and employment law framework.

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Employer risk 101 – Ministry enforcement of the ESA

August 10, 2016 Lisa Stam, Spring Law Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

If you are reading an employment law blog you already know that employers have legal obligations under the Ontario Employment Standards Act. The top five violations for the fiscal year 2014/2015, as compiled by the Ministry of Labour, were with respect to…

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After the accident: Pitfalls to avoid for employers after workplace accidents #learnthelatest

May 25, 2016 Stringer LLP Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Pensions and Benefits, Privacy and Security, Training and Development, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

The obligations on employers, constructors and other workplace stakeholders once a workplace accident occurs are heavy. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (the “Act”) requires that these parties take positive actions immediately from the time that an accident occurs. These actions can have important implications for later legal proceedings. Failing to comply with these obligations is itself a breach of the Act and can lead to legal liability distinct from and in addition to any liability flowing from the accident.

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Commission sales employees: Two common errors to avoid

March 15, 2016 Vey Willetts LLP Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Wages and Compensation

In the course of practice, employers have repeatedly made two fundamental mistakes when it comes to provision of commission pay: 1) not properly providing for vacation pay in the calculation of commission payments; and 2) failing to ensure commission payments comply with minimum wage requirements. While employer errors of this kind may be innocent or unintentional, significant financial liability can accrue as a result.

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Swing N Scaff Inc. and company director fined a total of $400,000 in deaths of four workers

December 19, 2014 Christina Catenacci Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Penalties and Fines, Union Relations

Last January, I wrote about fatalities at work, and in particular, the Metron Construction and Swartz decisions. Since then, there has been some developments.

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From the desk of the HR manager: Spring cleaning – Performing an HR audit

May 16, 2014 Employer Advisor, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Analytics, HR Policies and Procedures, HRMS, Human Resources, Payroll, Recruiting and Hiring, Training and Development, Union Relations

As spring is upon us, it is an appropriate time of the year for an organization to perform an audit of its human resources process. HR audits ensure regulatory and organizational policy compliance, while proactively pursuing internal efficiencies and excellence. Regular and systematic audits demonstrate due-diligence to regulatory bodies (e.g. Ministry of Labour) and promote a proactive, preventative approach to HR issues, subsequently reducing risk and liabilities.

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Let’s review: AODA public feedback now open

March 21, 2014 Clear Path Employer Services Accessibility Standards, Human Resources, Human Rights, Integrated Accessibility Regulation, Standard for Customer Service, Standard for Employment, Standard for Information and Communications, Standard for the Built Environment, Standard for Transportation

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) aims to make the province of Ontario fully accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. Since the AODA became law in 2005, Ontario has established accessibility standards for customer service, information and communications, employment, transportation, and the built environment: design of public spaces. There are currently two separate reviews of Ontario’s accessibility laws underway:

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