On May 23, 2017, the Ontario Government released the much anticipated Changing Workplaces Review Final Report and Summary (the “Report”). The Report recommended some 173 changes to Ontario’s employment and labour laws, and proposed amendments to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) and the Labour Relations Act, 1995. In response to the Report, on June 1, 2017, Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (“Bill 148”) was quickly introduced and referred for consideration of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Public consultations on Bill 148 will be held in various Ontario cities this summer. This Bulletin will focus on the proposed changes to the ESA which may have the most significant impact on charities and not-for-profits in Ontario, including changes proposed to provisions on minimum wage, paid vacation, personal and emergency leave, and scheduling.
For the balance of this Bulletin, please see Charity & NFP Law Bulletin No. 405.