Employment Standards

The government has made a new regulation under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). Under this new regulation, a non-unionized employee whose employer has temporarily reduced or eliminated their hours of work because of COVID-19 is deemed to be on a job-protected Infectious Disease Emergency Leave.

The regulation affects how the termination, severance and constructive dismissal rules under the ESA apply during the COVID-19 period.

Due to orders that have been issued under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, the minimum standards under the ESA that are described in this Guide may apply differently to certain employees during the declared COVID-19 emergency. You can find the orders by visiting the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act online and selecting the “Regulations Under This Act” tab.

The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development enforces and promotes awareness of employment standards, such as minimum wage, hours of work, public holidays and other standards. Explore this website to learn more about employee rights and employer obligations in Ontario.

Employees who believe their employer is not complying with Ontario's employment standards can file a claim with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Our tools and calculators can help employers and employees understand and calculate entitlements for public holiday pay, termination pay, hours of work, overtime and more.

Employers and/or recruiters are legally required to provide employees with copies of these documents in certain circumstances.

For more information on employment standards and how they work, consult Your Guide to the ESA, 2000.