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The provincial government says it will tighten the rules around mass layoffs.
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says, if passed, employers will be required to treat employees working from home the same as those in the office.
“This means they would get more notice that they are losing their jobs or pay in lieu, and in some cases, increase what they receive by as much as eight times,” says McNaughton.
The minimum severance pay for an individual layoff is one week, whereas the minimum for a mass layoff is eight weeks.
McNaughton says all employees will now be eligible for eight weeks under the proposed legislation.
“For billion-dollar companies, this change is a blip on their balance sheet. But for workers and those families, the peace of mind of having more time to find the next step in their careers will make a huge difference.”
McNaughton says he’s also looking at legislation requiring employers to inform new hires of their job duties, hours and pay before their first day.
He says it is information that should be known before workers attend their first day on the job.
“Whether this is provided on paper, over email, or even by text message is up to the employer. But every worker must be given this basic information.”
Under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA), employers are currently only required to share the latest version of the employment standards poster, which outlines ESA workplace rights and responsibilities, with new employees.