Employment Standards

Changes to ESA rules

Extension of the COVID-19 period

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario Government made a regulation that changed certain Employment Standards Act (ESA) rules during the COVID-19 period. This regulation was amended to extend the temporary rules to July 3, 2021. Learn more.

New rules related to recall rights

A new regulation came into force on December 17, 2020 that creates a special rule relating to the system in the ESA that governs the interaction between recall rights, termination pay and severance pay. We are in the process of updating the guide to reflect the new regulation. Please check back later for more information.

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.