Bill 148 Is Law: Timeline To Help Employers Transition

The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148) received royal assent on November 27, 2018, which is the final stage of the legislative process by which a bill becomes law. However, not all of the changes made to Ontario's employment standards legislation by Bill 148 are in force immediately. To assist employers in prioritizing their efforts to update their policies and practices to ensure compliance with Bill 148, this bulletin describes each change and its effective date.

Changes Effective Immediately

• No High-Heeled Shoes.  Employers cannot require workers to wear high-heeled shoes unless such footwear is required for the worker to perform his or her work safety. Exemptions exist for performers in the "entertainment and advertising industry", which is defined to mean the industry of producing: (a) live or broadcast performances, or (b) visual, audio-visual recordings of performances, in any medium or format.