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Minimum Wage is Going Up
Thursday, November 23, 2017
The Ontario Government passed the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act 2017 which will increase minimum wage from $11.60 to $14.00.
The new legislation will be in force January 1, 2018. It also introduces changes that will improve workplace standards by making your pay equal to a full-time employee’s if you’re a part-time or contract worker, and by increasing benefits if you’re on family leave.
Key changes you can expect are:
- Increase minimum wage to $14 per hour on January 1, 2018, $15 as of January 1, 2019 and followed by annual increases at the rate of inflation.
- Equal pay if you are a part-time, temporary, casual or seasonal employee and you are doing the same job as full-time employees.
- Equal pay if you are a temporary employee working through an agency doing the same job as employees at the agencies' client companies.
- Extended personal emergency leave to 10 days per calendar year for all employees, with at least two paid days per year for employees who have been employed for at least a week.
- Ban employers from requiring a doctor's sick note from you if you are taking personal emergency leave.
- Up to 17 weeks off without the fear of losing your job if you or your child has experienced or is threatened with domestic or sexual violence, including paid leave for the first five days.
- Minimum three weeks' vacation after five years with the same employer.
- Make scheduling fairer by requiring your employer pay you for three hours of work if your shift is cancelled within 48 hours of its scheduled start time.
For a full breakdown of the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act see the Backgrounder by the Ministry of Labour or keep reading about your employee rights in our My Rights at Work section.