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Ontario strengthening wage protections for restaurant workersThe Ontario government is introducing legislation that, if passed, would put in place ground-breaking protections for more than 400,000 people in the restaurant and hospitality industry. The Working for Workers Four Act, 2023, includes updates to the province’s Employment Standards Act, which would ban unpaid trial shifts and make clear that employers can never deduct an employee’s wages in the event of a dine and dash, gas and dash, or any other stolen property. Learn more |
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Ontario training veterans for in-demand careersThe Ontario government is investing $4.3 million in four innovative training projects to help 356 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members prepare for in-demand jobs and transition to civilian life. Every year, 8,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are released from service. Learn more |
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Ontario to ban requirements for Canadian work experience in job postingsThe Ontario government will soon introduce legislation that, if passed, would make it the first province in Canada to help even more internationally-trained immigrants work in the fields they’ve studied in by banning the use of Canadian work experience as a requirement in job postings or application forms. This change would help more qualified candidates progress in the interview process and follows historic legislation to prohibit regulated professions from requiring discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements in licensing for more than 30 occupations, which comes into effect December 2023. Learn more |
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Ontario taking action to support injured workers and firefightersThe Ontario government will soon introduce legislation that would, if passed, support injured workers by enabling “super indexing” increases to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits above the annual rate of inflation. For an injured worker who earns $70,000 a year, a two per cent increase could mean an additional $900 annually on top of cost-of-living adjustments, which were 6.5 per cent in 2023. Learn more |
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Ontario providing financial stability to employersThe average premium rate businesses pay to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) will remain steady in 2024. At a time when businesses are combatting rising costs of inflation, the stability will keep rates at a decades-long low, helping create new jobs and allowing for bigger paycheques for workers. Learn more |
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Ontario to require employers to disclose salary ranges and AI use in hiringThe Ontario government will soon introduce legislation that, if passed, would require employers to include expected salary ranges in job postings, giving workers more information to make informed decisions in their career search. In addition, the legislation would make Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to require businesses to disclose if artificial intelligence (AI) is used during their hiring process. Learn more |
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New date: Licensing for temporary help agencies and recruitersThe date by which temporary help agencies must have a licence to operate and recruiters must have a licence to act as a recruiter has changed from January 1, 2024 to July 1, 2024. This gives temporary help agencies and recruiters an additional six months to submit an application for a licence. Learn more |
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New Workplace Naloxone Program training providersThe ministry has expanded workplace access to naloxone training by partnering with six new program providers under the Workplace Naloxone Program. See the full list of providers | Learn about naloxone in the workplace |
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AODA compliance reporting deadline is fast approachingHave you filed your 2023 accessibility compliance report? Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees are required to submit a report by December 31, 2023. Submit your report on time to avoid potential enforcement action. If you have questions about how to file your report, you can find resources online, including a how-to video for business and non-profit organizations. You can also contact the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility for help. By working together, we can help make Ontario more accessible for everyone. Learn more |
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CRE-MSD: Understanding the role of psychosocial factors in workplace injuriesWorkplace psychosocial factors are cultural, social and psychological factors determined at or by the workplace that impact employees’ responses to work and their work environment, which can result in negative mental health outcomes and increase the risk of MSD. CRE-MSD provides resources on the interaction between psychosocial factors and common workplace injuries. Learn more: position paper | poster. Save the date for a new, related webinar on December 13: “Development of a survey to explore workplace risk factors and hazards common to both musculoskeletal and psychological injury.” Watch the CRE-MSD website for details. |
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CROSH: CROSHCon 2024: Occupational Illness AwarenessRegistration is open for CROSHCon 2024: Occupational Illness Awareness. Join in virtually on January 19, 2024, for nine engaging health and safety presentations. CROSH researchers and students will share their latest research on occupational illness, including vibration and musculoskeletal disorders, heat illness and infectious occupational disease. Registration is free, and all are welcome. Register now |
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ESA: 2023 annual Licence Holder Meeting (virtual)Electrical Safety Authority’s annual Licence Holder Meeting will be November 22, 2:00-4:00 p.m. This year’s keynote address will share case studies related to the dangers of energized work and emphasize the importance of working safely. During the meeting, you will learn about the latest developments from ESA Licensing, Operations and Communications Departments, hear highlights from the Ontario Electrical Safety Report and get updates on Administrative Penalty Orders (APOs) and the cases for which APOs have been issued. Register now |
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IHSA: Free eLearning, occupational disease event, and winter driving video seriesNew at the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA):
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IWH: Effectiveness of Ontario’s working-at-heights training standard, a tool for employers to support workers with episodic conditionsNews at the Institute for Work & Health (IWH):
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OHCOW: Silica Control ToolThe Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) has launched a new, free web-based Silica Control Tool. Each year approximately 153,000 Ontario workers are exposed to silica, which can lead to significant health problems, including silicosis, a serious and irreversible lung disease and lung cancer. The Silica Control Tool is designed to help Ontario’s construction sector assess whether, and how much, workers are exposed to silica, and develop job-specific exposure control plans to limit the hazard. Learn more |
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uOttawa: Conference registration, call for proposalsUniversity of Ottawa’s upcoming conference, Workers’ Health and Return to Work in a Changing World of Work, will take place in person June 10-11, 2024. The focus will be on policy and practice related to occupational injury and illness prevention, rehabilitation and return to work, with an emphasis on vulnerable and precariously employed workers. Presentation proposals are due December 8, 2023; registration closes April 15, 2024. Learn more |
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WSIAT: Decisions now shared electronicallyThe Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) has expanded the E-Share service to include sharing decisions electronically with parties. Anyone that has signed up for the service will now receive all case materials, including decisions, by E-Share. Learn more |
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WSN: Psychological safety essentials for small business, 2024 Health and Safety Excellence programNew at Workplace Safety North (WSN):
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WSPS: Autumn safety, effective workplace inspections, temp help agency licencing, prevent burnout, farm safety, restaurant safety, greenhouse safety symposiumNew at Workplace Safety & Prevention Service (WSPS):
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Court bulletinsView bulletins on recent court decisions that resulted in fines and other penalties under Ontario’s workplace laws. Read more |
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