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GENERAL LEGISLATIONS EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (EI) The Employment Insurance Act is a fundamental restructuring of the old Unemployment Insurance program and was fully implemented in January, 1997. The Act is designed for today's labour force, providing assistance where it is most needed and offering incentives for claimants to return to work. What is the Employment Standards Act? The Employment Standards Act, 2000, known as the ESA, is the law that sets out minimum standards for informed, fair and productive workplaces in Ontario. Why is there an ESA? The government is committed to safe, fair and healthy workplaces. The ESA gives employees and employers flexibility to design work arrangements that reflect today's personal and business needs. The ESA helps workers get fair treatment; employers become more productive; and Ontario to attract jobs and investment and stimulate growth. Who is covered by the ESA? The ESA covers every employer and employee in Ontario except: employers and employees in sectors under federal jurisdiction such as banking, airlines, interprovincial transportation and radio and television broadcasting; employees of the Crown, who are excluded from most, but not all, provisions of the ESA; police officers; people who hold political, judicial, religious or trade union offices; participants in work experience programs authorized by school boards, colleges or universities; people required to do community participation to qualify for social assistance; inmates taking part in work programs. There are other exemptions and special rules. You should check the ESA and regulations for details (see "For More Information" at the end of this brochure). What are some of the key provisions of the ESA? Pregnancy Leave and Parental Leave Birth mothers are entitled to take 17 weeks of pregnancy leave and 35 weeks of job-protected parental leave. All other new parents can take up to 37 weeks of leave. As a result, if each parent of a newborn child elects to take the maximum allowable job protected leave at separate times, the child could have a parent at home for up to 89 weeks. (Note: Maternity and parental benefits are employment insurance payments from the federal Employment I nsurance program. The rules about these benefits are different than the rules about pregnancy and parental leave under the ESA. For information about these benefits, please call the nearest Human Resources Development Canada office in the Blue Pages of your telephone book.) Emergency Leave Unpaid, job-protected emergency leave of up to 10 days each year is available for any employee who works for a company that regularly employs 50 or more people. It may be taken in the case of personal illness, injury, or medical emergency and the death, illness, injury, medical emergency or urgent matter concerning specified family members. Hours of Work and Overtime The daily limit is eight hours of work a day, or the number of hours in an established regular work day that is longer than eight hours. The weekly limit is 48 hours. Employees can agree, in writing, to work more than the longer daily and weekly limits, up to a maximum of 60 hours a week. Most employees must receive overtime pay after 44 hours of work each week. The overtime rate is at least 1� times the regular rate of pay. Employees can take time off at the rate of 1� hours for each hour of overtime worked, instead of overtime pay, if they and their employers agree in writing. If an employee and employer agree in writing, the employee's hours of work can also be averaged over a period of time not to exceed four weeks for the purpose of determining whether overtime is due. Rest Periods The daily rest period requirement is 11 consecutive hours off in a 24-hour period. An employee must be allowed 24 consecutive hours off in each week or 48 hours off (two consecutive days) every two weeks. An employee must also have eight hours free from work between shifts - unless the total time worked on successive shifts is 13 hours or less, or unless the employee and employer agree to another arrangement in writing. These requirements are also subject to certain exceptions, e.g. on-call employees or employers' emergency staffing needs. Direct Deposit Employers can deposit wages directly into employees' bank accounts if certain conditions are met. For example, the financial institution must be within a reasonable distance from the workplace, unless the employee agrees otherwise in writing. Vacation Time and Vacation Pay Employees are entitled to four percent of their wages as vacation pay. Employees earn two weeks of vacation time each 12-month vacation entitlement year. Employers must generally schedule vacations in one- or two-week blocks, unless employees request their vacation time be scheduled in other ways. If an employee requests in writing, and an employer agrees in writing, vacation can be taken in periods as short as one day at a time. Public Holidays There are eight public holidays in each calendar year in Ontario: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (Dec. 26). Most employees are entitled to public holidays regardless of how long they've been working. Unless otherwise prescribed, public holiday pay is the regular wages earned plus vacation pay payable to an employee during the four work weeks prior to the holiday, divided by 20. Termination and Severance In most cases, when an employer ends the employment of someone who has been continuously employed for three months or more, the employer must provide either advance written notice of termination or termination pay or a combination of the two. How much advance written notice or termination pay is required generally depends on how long someone has been working for an employer. The requirements may also be affected by the number of employees terminated in a four-week period. Employers must continue to make the contributions required to maintain an employee's benefit plans during the notice period. This applies even if the employee has received termination pay instead of working part or all of the notice period. Posting requirements Employers must post in their workplaces a Ministry of Labour document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees under the ESA. Employers are required to post this information in the majority language of the workplace if such a poster is available from the Ministry of Labour. Employees can't be penalized Employers cannot penalize employees in any way because the employee: exercises or tries to exercise any rights under the ESA; asks questions about their rights under the ESA; asks their employer to comply with the ESA; files a complaint under the ESA; gives information to a Ministry of Labour employment standards officer or participates in a proceeding under the ESA or section 4 of the Retail Business Holidays Act; is or will become eligible to take, plans to take, or takes a pregnancy, parental or emergency leave; was the subject of a court order or garnishment that requires the employer to pay the employee's wages to a third party. Enforcing the law Ministry of Labour employment standards officers have the right to look into possible violations of the ESA and they can inspect workplaces. Employers who violate the ESA can be ordered to: pay the wages that are owing to employees (up to a maximum of $10,000 per employee); pay an administrative fee; comply with the ESA; reinstate an employee; compensate an employee; pay a penalty. Employers can also be prosecuted and, upon conviction, ordered to pay a fine of up to $50,000 and/or serve up to 12 months in jail. Corporate employers can be ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 for a first offence, $250,000 for a second offence and $500,000 for a third offence. How to file a claim If an employee thinks that an employer or former employer has not followed the ESA, they are encouraged to discuss the matter with their employer. They may also choose to send their employer a letter explaining the problem and asking to have it resolved. If they need help, they can contact the Ministry of Labour and can file a claim. Employees who are covered by a collective agreement must generally go through their union if they think their rights have been violated. For information on how to file a claim, please call the Employment Standards Information Centre (see the end of this brochure), or visit the nearest Ministry of Labour office (see the Blue Pages or our web site). ***** This brochure contains only general information about some rules in the ESA. The ESA also sets out rules for Minimum Wage, Record Keeping, Retail Employees and Sunday Work, Equal Pay for Equal Work, Benefit Plans, and other topics. For more detail you should refer to the law itself. See below for information on how to get a copy of the ESA or where to go to learn more about it. For more information Call the Employment Standards Information Centre at 416-326-7160 or toll- free at 1-800-531-5551. Information on the ESA can also be found on the Ministry of Labour web site at http://www.gov.on.ca/lab/ and select "Employment Standards". Copies of the ESA, fact sheets, bulletins and other useful materials can be obtained from: the web site at http://www.gov.on.ca/lab/; the Ministry of Labour Publications Sales Unit at 1-800-809-4731; Publications Ontario, 1-800-668-9938; hearing impaired TTY 1-800-268-7095. MINISTRY OF LABOUR WORK AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE The people of Ontario enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. Our economic growth is soaring. Our workforce is among the most highly educated, trained and skilled anywhere in the world. Ontario is a good place to live, work and raise a family - and we want to keep it that way. Keeping that high standard depends on maintaining our economic growth. Our vision is a province that encourages new investment, jobs and prosperity. It is a province that has labour laws designed to seize the opportunities of the global economy and workplaces of the 21st century. To do this, our workplaces need to be safe. They need to be fair. They need to be harmonious. What does the Ministry of Labour do? The goal of the Ministry of Labour is to have workplaces that are safe, fair and harmonious in Ontario. To achieve that goal, the ministry administers and enforces Ontario's labour laws through its three main business areas: occupational health and safety, employment standards and labour relations. Each area is responsible for administering specific laws, enforcing them where necessary and protecting the rights of employees who have the greatest need in the workplace. KEEPING ONTARIO'S WORKPLACES SAFE Occupational Health and Safety Program What is the ministry's role in occupational health and safety? The ministry sets, communicates and enforces standards under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act) and other legislation to ensure safe and healthy workplaces. The "Internal Responsibility System" is the basis of the Act. The Internal Responsibility System recognizes that injury and disease prevention is the shared responsibility of everyone in the workplace - employers, supervisors, employees and others. The ministry works with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and health and safety organizations funded by the WSIB. These agencies provide education, training and advice to employers and employees to ensure safe and healthy workplaces. With its partners the ministry focuses on injury and illness prevention in sectors such as industrial, construction and mining. Enforcement is a key role. Ministry health and safety inspectors, with technical support from engineers, physicians, hygienists, ergonomists and radiation physicists, enforce the laws by: � Inspecting companies, concentrating on those that need help in establishing self-reliance in their workplace, and on companies that have a poor track record; � Investigating fatalities, critical injuries, serious accidents, complaints, work refusals, work stoppages and disputes. Legislation and Regulations include: � The Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations for: - Construction Projects/Manufacture and Repair of Ships - Industrial Establishments - Mines and Mining Plants - Designated substances such as asbestos, lead, mercury or isocyanates � Smoking in the Workplace Act � Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act � Parts of the Hazardous Products Act � Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) KEEPING ONTARIO'S WORKPLACES FAIR Employment Standards Program What is the role of the ministry in employment standards? The ministry sets, communicates and enforces standards under the Employment Standards Act to ensure fair workplaces. Employment standards staff educate employers and employees about the minimum standards. This helps both the employers and employees understand their rights under the law, become more self-reliant and able to comply with the law. The key standards include: minimum wage hours of work overtime annual vacation termination of employment severance pay public holidays pregnancy and parental leave homeworkers and domestic workers Employment Standards Officers conduct workplace inspections, investigate employee claims in workplaces where employees (or past employees) are not covered by a collective agreement and help to resolve disputes. They enforce compliance when necessary. The Pay Equity Commission The Pay Equity Commission contributes to fairness in the workplace. The Commission is responsible for the Pay Equity Act and ensures that work traditionally done by women is paid at least the same as work of equal value traditionally done by men. The Pay Equity Office services include: � education programs for the public � dispute resolution to help employers, employees and bargaining units � monitoring the implementation of pay equity plans � enforcing compliance when required KEEPING ONTARIO'S WORKPLACES HARMONIOUS Labour Management Services What is the role of Labour Management Services? Labour Management Services help maintain balanced, stable and harmonious labour relations in Ontario while encouraging greater self-reliance in the workplace. Key to this is mediating disputes between employers and bargaining agents to achieve negotiated settlements. Labour Management Services delivers programs through the: � Office of Mediation, which settles collective agreements through conciliation and mediation. � Office of Arbitration, which processes requests for the appointment of arbitrators. � Office of Collective Bargaining Information, which provides labour relations and collective bargaining research and information. Other agencies of the Ministry of Labour These boards and offices are independent or partially independent of the Ministry of Labour and carry out function that are related to the ministry's main businesses. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board - plays a key role in Ontario's occupational health and safety system. It has a strong prevention mandate, provides insurance for injuries and illnesses that occur in workplaces covered under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, and works to help the employee's early and safe return to work. (The following two offices are funded by the WSIB and advise, represent and educate employers and employees in their dealings with the WSIB and WSIAT.) Office of the Employer Adviser - provides services primarily to employers with fewer than 100 employees. Office of the Worker Adviser - provides assistance to non-unionized employees. Public Service Appeals Board (PSAB) - comprised of the Crown Employees Grievance Settlement Board and the Public Service Grievance Board. The PSAB arbitrates and mediates disputes arising from collective agreements under the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act, 1993. The board also hears grievances of management employees pursuant to the Public Service Act. Tribunals Three tribunals adjudicate and hear appeals of cases. They have powers similar to law courts Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) - hears appeals from employees and employers who disagree with decisions made by the WSIB concerning comprehensive claims. It is independent of the WSIB. Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal (PEHT) - has final authority under the Pay Equity Act to resolve disputes arising from a Pay Equity Commission order. The tribunal also determines applications for enforcement brought to it by the Commission. Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) - adjudicates matters under the Ontario Labour Relations Act. It certifies trade unions and can terminate a trade union's bargaining rights. It also hears appeals of cases under the Employment Standards Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other employment related laws. The OLRB also adjudicates matters under: Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act Colleges Collective Bargaining Act Education Act, as amended by the Education Quality Improvement Act Crown Employees' Collective Bargaining Act, 1993 Public Service Act Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act, 1997 Smoking in the Workplace Act Environmental Protection Act and Environmental Bill of Rights MINISTRY OF LABOUR FIELD OFFICES Central Region Toronto East 2275 Midland Avenue Unit #1, Main Floor Scarborough ON M1P 3E7 416-314-5300 Fax: 416-314-5410 Durham 67 Thornton Road South Oshawa ON L1J 5Y1 905-433-9416 1-800-263-1195 Fax: 905-433-9843 Toronto North 1201 Wilson Avenue Building E, 2nd Floor Downsview ON M3M 1J8 416- 235-5330 Fax: 416- 235-5080 Toronto West 1201 Wilson Avenue, Building E, 2nd Floor, West Building Downsview ON M3M 1J8 416-235-5330 Fax: 416-235-5090 Peel North Peel South 1290 Central Parkway West, Main Floor Mississauga ON L5C 4R3 905-273-7800 Fax: 905-615-7098 York 1110 Stellar Drive, Unit 102 Newmarket ON L3Y 7B7 905-715-7020 1-888-299-3138 Fax: 905-715-7140 Barrie 114 Worsley Street, Suite 201 Barrie ON L4M 1M1 705-722-6642 1-800-461-4383 Fax: 705-726-3101 Eastern Region Ottawa West Ottawa East 1111 Prince of Wales Drive Suite 200 Ottawa ON K2C 3T2 613-228-8050 1-800-267-1916 Fax: 613-727-2900 Kingston Beechgrove Complex 51 Heakes Lane Kingston ON K7M 9B1 613-545-0989 Fax: 613-545-9831 Peterborough 300 Water Street North 3rd Floor, South Tower Peterborough ON K9J 8M5 705-755-4700 Fax: 705-755-4724 Northern Region Sudbury East Sudbury West 159 Cedar Street, Suite 301 Sudbury ON P3E 6A5 705-564-7400 1-800-461-6325 Sudbury East Fax: 705-564-7076 Sudbury West Fax: 705-564-7437 Timmins Ontario Government Complex P. O. Bag 3050 "D" Wing Highway 101 East South Porcupine ON P0N 1H0 705-235-1900 1-800-461-9847 Fax: 705-235-1925 Thunder Bay 435 James Street South, Ste. 222 Thunder Bay ON P7E 6S7 807-475-1691 1-800-465-5016 Fax: 807-475-1646 Sault Ste. Marie 70 Foster Dr, Ste. 480 Sault Ste. Marie ON P6A 6V4 705-945-6600 1-800-461-7268 Fax: 705-949-9796 Western Region Hamilton 1 Jarvis Street, Main Floor Hamilton ON L8R 3J2 905-577-6221 1-800-263-6906 Fax: 905-577-1200 Halton 1 Jarvis Street, Main Floor Hamilton ON L8R 3J2 905-577-6221 1-800-263-6906 Fax: 905-577-1324 Brant 1 Jarvis Street, Main Floor Hamilton ON L8R 3J2 905-577-6221 1-800-263-6906 Fax: 905-577-1324 Niagara 301 St. Paul St, 8th Floor St. Catharines ON L2R 7R4 905-704-3994 1-800-263-7260 Fax: 905-704-3011 London North London South 217 York St., 5th Floor London ON N6A 5P9 519-439-2210 1-800-265-1676 Fax: 519-672-0268 Windsor 4510 Rhodes Drive, Suite 610 Windsor ON N8W 5K5 519-256-8277 1-800-265-5140 Fax: 519-258-1321 Kitchener 155 Frobisher Drive, Unit G213 Waterloo ON N2V 2E1 519-885-3378 1-800-265-2468 Fax: 519-883-5694 IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Employment Standards Inquiries and Information Centre: 416-326-7160 (Greater Toronto Area) 1-800-531-5551 (Canada-wide) Occupational Health and Safety Inquiries: 1-800-268-8013 (Province-wide) Other: 416-326-7770 - Occupational Health & Safety Other: 416-326-7160 - Employment Standards Toll Free: 800-268-8013 - Occupational Health & Safety Toll Free: 800-531-5551 - Employment Standards Fax: 416-326-6546 - On-Demand Web site: www.gov.on.ca/lab Address: LABOUR 400 University Ave Toronto ON M7A 1T7 OFFICE OF THE EMPLOYER ADVISER General Inquiry: 416-327-0020 Toll Free: 800-387-0774 Fax: 416-327-0726 Web site: www.gov.on.ca/lab/oea Address: OFFICE OF THE EMPLOYER ADVISER Suite 704 151 Bloor St W Toronto ON M5S 1S4 MINISTER'S OFFICE General Inquiry: 416-326-7600 Fax: 416-326-1449 Address: MINISTER'S OFFICE 14th Flr 400 University Ave Toronto ON M7A 1T7 DEPUTY MINISTER'S OFFICE General Inquiry: 416-326-7606 Fax: 416-326-0507 Address: DEPUTY MINISTER'S OFFICE 14th Flr 400 University Ave Toronto ON M7A 1T7 ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS CLUSTER - INFORMATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY General Inquiry: 416-326-9400 - Service Desk Other: 416-212-6000 - Service Desk Fax: 416-326-9424 Address: ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS CLUSTER - INFORMATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Eaton Tower 33rd Flr 250 Yonge St Toronto ON M5B 2N5 INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION General Inquiry: 416-326-7586 Fax: 416-326-7599 Address: INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION 14th Flr 400 University Ave Toronto ON M7A 1T7 OPERATIONS DIVISION General Inquiry: 416-326-7606 Fax: 416-212-4455 Address: OPERATIONS DIVISION 14th Flr 400 University Ave Toronto ON M7A 1T7 POLICY AND LABOUR MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION General Inquiry: 416-326-7558 Fax: 416-326-7599 Address: POLICY AND LABOUR MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION 14th Flr 400 University Ave Toronto ON M7A 1T7 Ministry of Labour http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/english/index.html			SOS Newsletter Employment Standards Act - Agricultural Workers - Domestic Workers - Home Workers - Hours of Work - How to file a Claim - Minimum Wages - Overtime Pay - Parental Leave - Pregnancy Leave - Public Holidays - Temporary Layoff - Termination of Employment - Seasonal Work - Severance Pay - Vacation Pay & Vacation with Pay - Working in Retail General Legislations An Introduction to Hiring in Canada Hiring in Canada or Employment in Canada gives a vast description of Employment Legislation in Canada. It covers Employment Standards Act and other General Employment Legislations regarding jobs in Canada or employment in Canada. Important issues like minimum wages, temporary layoff, termination of employment, severance pay and vacation pay are covered under this section. Hiring in Canada or Employment in Canada provides sources for Employment Opportunities in Canada available for general applicants as well as jobs in Canada for students. Hiring in Canada or Employment in Canada also gives reference to the Employment Agencies helping applicants in finding jobs in Canada, both government and private. The viewers can search for Employment Opportunities in Canada through these agencies. Self-created Jobs is an other feature of Hiring in Canada or Employment in Canada. It is a good source of finding Jobs in Canada.
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