TORONTO — Ontario is set to introduce legislation proposing a host of measures for workers, including right-to-disconnect policies.
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said he doesn’t want Ontario to become a place where people burn out from endless work, and where family time comes last.
“This is an issue that’s been really highlighted because of the pandemic,” McNaughton said. “The lines between family time and work time have been blurred. I think all of us have faced challenges over the last couple of years.”
The legislation would require employers with 25 or more employees to develop disconnecting-from-work policies, which could include expectations about response time for emails and encouraging employees to turn on out-of-office notifications when they are not working.
It also proposes a ban on non-compete agreements, which often prevent workers from taking a new job in the same field after they leave a company.
The omnibus labour legislation is aimed at creating conditions that will help build a talented workforce in Ontario, McNaughton said.
“The future of work is here now,” he said. “These changes to ban non-compete contracts and to ensure that there’s a right to disconnect will help every single worker, but also will help companies attract talent and retain talent.”
The legislation would also make it easier for immigrants to get licensed to work in professions that match their area of expertise, require temporary help agencies to be licensed, and require businesses to let delivery drivers use their washrooms.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021.
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