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ARTICLE · 08 DECEMBER 2021

Employment Update: Recent Changes To Employment Legislation In Ontario: Bill 27, Working For Workers Act, 2021

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On November 30, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021.

CanadaEmployment and HR
Blaney McMurtry LLP
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On November 30, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021 ("Bill 27"). Bill 27 has made significant changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 ("ESA"), Occupational Health and Safety Act ("OHSA") and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 ("WSIA").   For most employers in Ontario the two most significant changes relate to (i) mandatory policies on employees' "right to disconnect", and (ii) prohibitions on the use of non-compete provisions in Ontario employment agreements (subject to limited exceptions).

Right to Disconnect

Employers with twenty-five (25) or more employees (as of January 1st of each year) are required to implement a written policy (before March 1st of that year) about employees "disconnecting from work". Bill 27 defines "disconnecting from work" as not engaging in work-related communications, including emails, telephone calls, video calls or the sending or reviewing of other messages, so as to be free

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