Minimum Wage Increase
Effective June 1, 2014, the minimum wage in Ontario has increased to $11.00 per hour. The student minimum wage is now $10.30 per hour and the liquor services minimum wage is now $9.55 per hour.
Health and Safety Deadline
Effective July 1, 2014, all Ontario employers are required to ensure that their employees have received mandatory safety awareness training under the Occupational Health & Safety Awareness and Training Regulation.
New Leave of Absences for Ontario Employees
On April 29, 2014, Bill 21 received Royal Assent. It provides employees with the following additional leaves of absence:
- Family Caregiver Leave: an employee is entitled to up to 8 weeks’ unpaid leave per year to provide care and support to an immediate family member who has a serious medical condition.
- Critically Ill Child Care Leave: an employee with at least six months’ service is entitled to an unpaid leave of absence of up to 52 weeks to care for a critically ill child. The leave may be extended for an additional 52 weeks if the child remains critically ill.
- Crime-related Child Death or Disappearance Leave: an employee is entitled to an unpaid leave of absence of up to 104 weeks if their child dies as a result of a crime. An employee is also entitled to an unpaid leave of up to 52 weeks if their child disappears as a result of a crime.