UPDATE ON ONTARIO'S PROPOSED NEW LABOUR LAWS

Bill 148 – also known as Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 continues to make progress towards numerous potential changes that will undoubtedly have an impact on most employers in Ontario.  New regulations have been proposed on items such as minimum wage, paid personal emergency leaves, paid vacation standards, stepping up enforcement of employment legislation, and simplifying the calculation for paying public holiday pay to name a few.

THE UPDATE:      

There have been numerous public reports over the summer in protest of various proposed changes.  For instance, The Keep Ontario Working Coalition suggests the new minimum wage proposal will put 185,000 jobs in Ontario at risk, and Loblaw Co. has publicly estimated 190M in increased costs resulting from the proposed changes. 

We have also heard the report from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which applauds the aggressive changes to minimum wage legislation, indicating the wage hike is long overdue.

Since First Reading of Bill 148 with the Legislative Assembly in June, there were a host of Public Hearings across Ontario in July, resulting in revisions being made to many of the 173 originally proposed amendments.  These revisions will be reviewed once the Ontario Legislature returns from summer break this week, and we are likely to see more changes over the next few months.
At this time, we continue to advise clients to not overreact to these recent announcements, as this Act is still a work in progress. NCHR will continue to monitor progress of these proposed changes.
                      
‘SURVEY SAYS’ – PROJECTED 2018 SALARY INCREASES REVEALED.

Over the past few weeks some of Canada’s largest HR Consulting Companies have revealed the results of their annual surveys, revealing their projections for average salary increases for Canadian employees in 2018.

• Willis Towers Watson’s annual survey of 312 companies project a 2.8% average salary increase for employees across all industries in Canada in 2018.
• Morneau Shepell’s annual survey ‘Trends in Human Resources’ suggest a 2.3% average salary increase for employees across all industries in Canada in 2018.
• Mercer’s 2017/2018 Compensation Planning Survey of 660 companies project a 2.4% average salary increase for employees across all industries in Canada in 2018.

Though not an exact science, these surveys generally provide reliable data that should not be ignored.  Employers are encouraged to budget accordingly for employee salary increases in 2018. 

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This e-newsletter from NCHR Consulting & Recruitment Services contains important information about HR related legislative updates and other best practice suggestions and lessons learned, to help you better manage your business and employee situations.    

NCHR e-newsletter: Fourteenth Edition