Ontario Tightening Rules around Mass Layoffs

The last three years has initiated the largest shift to remote work in history. In 2022, more than 1.4 million people in Ontario were working remotely and another 800,000 were hybrid workers.

To respond to this increase in remote work, and a changing economy, this government is introducing legislation that puts workers first.

Proposed changes, if passed, would update how a workplace is defined in Ontario’s labour laws to extend mass layoff protections to those who work exclusively from home. This will ensure that remote workers receive the same eight week minimum payment as their in-office counterparts, preventing companies from taking advantage of remote workers.

To further protect workers, the government is also proposing to require employers provide new hires with information in writing about their job, such as pay, work location and hours of work, before their first shift.

These changes build on the successes of our previous Working for Workers Acts, which gave workers the right to disconnect from work at the end of their shift, the right to privacy through requiring employers share how they are electronically monitoring their employees, and banning non-compete agreements which stifle career advancement and wage increases.

All of these changes are part of our plan to tackle our historic labour shortage by making Ontario the best province to work, live and raise a family.

Learn more: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002816/ontario-tightening-rules-around-mass-layoffs