In a significant legal move, Ontario, Canada, has amended regulations to support new changes effected by Bill 79 to the Employment Standards Act’s (ESA) mass termination provisions. The new regulations went into force on November 10, 2023, bolstering one of the central tenets of Ontario’s ‘Working for Workers Act, 2023’. This new regulation, termed O. Reg. 340/23: TERMINATION AND SEVERANCE OF EMPLOYMENT, amends the previous O. Reg. 288/01 (Termination and Severance of Employment) under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and was published in the Ontario Gazette on November 25, 2023.
The exceptional nature of Bill 79 is further represented by its expansive view of the employment realm. A focal point of this bill is the inclusion of remote employees in mass termination considerations. The advent of the ongoing global pandemic has drastically altered the landscape of work, and Bill 79 seeks to address these changes by expanding protection to remote workers as well.
The amended legislation and subsequent regulations represent a bold step by Ontario’s government to adapt and evolve to fast-changing global work dynamics. Legal experts have been closely monitoring these changes. For further in-depth analysis of these regulations, read here.
As legal professionals in the services sector, staying apprised of such changes in the legal landscape not only in your native countries but also globally can significantly impact strategic decision-making. Bearing the potential to affect workforces and operating procedures worldwide, these changes underline the growing significance of considering remote work while deliberating mass termination provisions.