On September 8, 2016, some changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act came into effect regarding workplace harassment and violence. Ontario employers who have more than five (5) workers are now required to have a written workplace harassment and violence policy and to post the policy in a conspicuous place in the workplace.
There are various legislative requirements for employers in Ontario that deal with:
- What workplace policies are required?
- What must be posted in the workplace?
- What training is mandatory?
The following is a summary of the workplace requirements under different legislation for Ontario employers. Please note that this is a generalization and there are various exceptions, etc. that may apply.
ESA | OHRC | OHSA | WSIA | PIPEDA | |
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Legislation | Employment Standards Act | Ontario Human Right Code | Occupational Health and Safety Act | Workplace Safety and Insurance Act | Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act |
Who has to comply? | All employers employing employees whose work is performed in Ontario | Ontario employers and employees | Ontario employers | Determine whether you must register with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) | Ontario businesses in the course of commercial activities |
Workplace Policy | Not mandatory | Strongly recommended. Tribunal has power to order that employer create written policy (how to) | Workplaces having 5 or more workers that are regularly
employed, must have a written OHS policy (how to) and a Workplace Harassment and
Workplace Violence Policy (how to) and review both at least once per
year |
See WSIB site for obligations | Not mandatory but recommended |
Posting Requirements | Current version of "Employment Standards in Ontario" poster must be displayed in a conspicuous location. New employees must be provided a copy of the poster within 30 days of commencement of employment. | None | Must display: 1. OHSA Poster 2. Workplace harassment and Workplace Violence Policy 3. copy of the Act |
You are required by law to hang the WSIB "In Case of Injury at Work – 1234" poster, near your first aid station | None. |
Training Requirements | Not mandatory | Strongly recommended. Tribunal has power to order that employer provide training (how to) | Every Ontario worker and supervisor is required to complete training. Online training is available through the Ministry of Labour | First aid training is required | Not mandatory. |
Complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Ontario has legislated a phased in approach for the Ontarians with Disabilities Act with a view to the Act being fully implemented by 2025. The Ontario Government has developed a toolkit to assist businesses. The general obligations for Ontario businesses are as follows:
Summary | 1-19 Employees | 20-49 Employees | 50+ Employees | ||||
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Jan 12, 2012 | Provide |
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Jan 1, 2014 |
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Dec 31, 2014 | File |
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Jan 1, 2015 |
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Jan 1, 2016 |
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Jan 1, 2017 |
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Make new or redeveloped public spaces accessible (how to) | |||||
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Dec 31, 2017 | File | File an Accessibility Compliance Report (how to) | |||||
Jan 1, 2018 | Public spaces | Make new or redeveloped public spaces accessible (how to) | |||||
Dec 31, 2020 | File | File an Accessibility Compliance Report (how to) | |||||
Jan 1, 2021 | Websites and web content | Make all websites and web content accessible (how to) | |||||
Dec 31, 2023 | File | File an Accessibility Compliance Report (how to) |
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.