Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, which significantly amends Ontario labour and employment law, has received Royal Assent and is now law. Earlier in 2017, the Ontario government issued its response to a Final Report two Special Advisors drafted as part of their Changing Workplaces Review. This Final Report included 173 recommendations for amendments to Ontario employment and labour laws.

On Wednesday, the Ontario legislature passed the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act. The highlights of the act include:

Younger generations value interesting work, continuous learning and work-life balance over pay and benefits, according to a new report by consultancy and marketing agency Lovell Corp.

The report, part of a research study conducted in partnership with the University of Guelph, aims to provide insights into the career aspirations, work values and career priorities of millennials and generation Z, with an emphasis on how employers can better attract, retain and engage these younger generations.

Bill 148 passes second reading

We first reported on Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 in our Employment Update in June 2017. Since that time, the Bill has passed second reading and is currently back before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. For the most part, the significant changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) contemplated by the previous version of Bill 148 remain intact. These include: