Bill 148 Passes (But Not Before A Few Last-Minute Changes Were Made)

On Wednesday, November 22, 2017, the Government of Ontario passed Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017. Introduced on June 1, 2017 as a response to the Final Report of the Changing Workplaces Review, Bill 148 makes significant amendments to Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000, Labour Relations Act, 1995 and most recently, the Occupational Health and Safety Act. As many are aware, aside from the highly publicized $15 Minimum Wage, Bill 148 will require employers to make significant changes to their policies and practices.

Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 has now passed Third Reading and is awaiting Royal Assent. Prior to passing, some last minute, but significant, changes were made to the Bill. Most significant, perhaps, was the inclusion of paid leave for the first five days of Domestic or Sexual Violence Leave. As we recently reported, the new leave allows employees to take up to 17 weeks off work, in a flexible manner, to