Is your business in compliance?
Are you aware that your business is legally required to take these steps in the workplace?
Compliance Initiative dates for 2022 and 2023 have been released. Please visit the following website for more information and specific dates:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/workplace-compliance-initiatives
Employment Standards Act Poster
Which poster do I need to provide my employees?
As an employer, you are required to provide each employee with a paper or electronic copy of the poster. The poster can be printed in colour or black and white.
Click on the links below. In PDF format:
How soon do I need to provide a copy of the poster to my employees?
Please note that the Ministry of Labour updated the poster as of September 8, 2020. In the case of new hires, employers will have 30 days from the employee's start date to provide them with the poster and it must be provided in languages other than English if an employee requests a translated version.
How do I keep track of which employees I have provided these posters to?
While the government does not have a specific process or requirement, it would be prudent to keep a log or record of date and initials of employees that received it, as well if they received a paper or electronic copy.
What other languages is the poster available?
Click on the links below. In PDF format:
If an employee requests the poster in one of the languages listed above, the employer is required to provide a copy of the Employment Standards poster in that language. Please note that posters in other languages must be posted beside the English version. Call Service Ontario at 1 800 668-9938. Please note that shipping for the poster, regardless of the number of copies requested, is $6.00.
What if I fail to provide this poster to my employees?
The poster may be one of the various items that a Ministry of Labour inspector would look for during an inspection. Businesses could face fine of $295.00 for non-compliance
Is there anything else I should know about the Employment Standards Act?
The Ministry of Labour’s Employment Standards Act, sets out the minimum entitlements of your employees. The act covers a variety of compliance requirements from break time, overtime, public holiday, vacation pay and many more areas. Please contact your Business Resources team to obtain further details.
Occupational Health and Safety Poster and Compliance
You are required to post the Health and Safety – Prevention Starts Here poster in your workplace. You are not required to provide a copy to your employees, however, you can as part of your safety measures in place. This poster must be posted in English and any other language spoken in your business. Here is a list of the posters in all languages offered by the Ministry of Labour:
Do you have your copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Greenbook)?
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) must be posted in the workplace, where employees can read it.
Where can I purchase a copy of the greenbook for my business?
Copies can be ordered from ServiceOntario PublicationsIn order to purchase your copy of the greenbook, you will need to know the publication number that is associated to your industry. Here are few examples of the common publication numbers:
There are 11 versions of the Greenbook. Here are the most popular ones and the links to order:
Publication number 300152 and 300789 (amendments) OHSA with Industrial Regulations
Publication number 300816 OHSA with Farming Operation Regulations
Publication number 300150 and 300789 (amendments) OHSA with Construction Regulations
Publication number 300151 and 300789 (amendments) OHSA without regulations
Please note that you must have the relevant regulations with your OHSA. Please call a CFIB Business Advisor for advice at 1 888-234-2232.
Am I required to have a health and safety representative or health and safety committee?
This depends on the nature of your business and health and safety risks involved. However, workplaces with more than five employees have a health and safety representative. This individual is not part of management and elected by employees. If you have more than twenty employees, but less than forty nine, you are required to have a Joint Health and Safety Committee.
What if I fail to have a health and safety representative or joint health and safety committee?
Failure to having a representative or committee can be a fine of $550.00
What is a Harassment policy and program?
You are required to prepare a workplace harassment policy and program under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). In addition to including the definition of workplace harassment as defined by the OHSA in its policy, you may include the following behaviors as examples of workplace harassment:
Workplace sexual harassment includes unwelcome solicitation or advances from a manager, supervisor or another person who has the power to reward or punish the worker. Please read the Code of Practice on the Ontario Ministry of Labour's website.
Is there a template available to create a Harassment policy and program?
The Ministry of Labour has provided the following guides, as resource:
The Ministry of Labour has provided the following guides, as resource:
Am I required to hire a third party to train my employees on violence in the workplace?
No, you are not required to hire a third party to conduct violence training. However, you are required to train employees on your company policies and program. The Ministry of Labour does not have a specific training recommendation. If you are comfortable, you can train your employees, or look for external training materials, course and guidance.
What is a Health and Safety policy and program?
You are required to take every reasonable precaution to protect worker safety, including health and safety instruction and supervision. The most effective way to ensure worker safety is to have a health & safety policy and plan in the workplace. The following is a basic list provided by the Ministry of Labour of elements that may be included in your program:
Is there a template available to create a Health and Safety and program?
You can find a template here on CCOHS's Health and Safety Program webpage.
Which poster do I need to post in my workplace?
You are required to post the In case of Injury or Illness at Work poster.
What are my First Aid training compliance obligations?
Depending on how many workers you have on a shift and if your workplace is covered by WSIB, you must train your employees on:
Who can deliver the emergency and standard first aid training?
Please review WSIB list of approved trainers.
What are my obligations with our workplace First Aid Kit?
Please review Regulation 1101 to see a full list of First Aid Kit requirements.
No Smoking No Vaping
Who must post the smoke-free and vape free posters in the workplace?
If you have an enclosed workplace or enclosed public space as described by the Smoke-Free Ontario Act 2017 or Ontario Regulations 268/18.
Where do I post the individual or combined tobacco/e-cigarette signs?
The tobacco/e-cigarette (individual or combination) should be posted at each entrance, exit, and washroom to guarantee your employees or the public do not smoke, regardless if it is for medical or recreational purposes, tobacco, cannabis or vape.
What if I own a hotel, motel or inn, where do I post these signs?
You must post these signs in in all guest rooms considered “non-smoking” or “non-vaping”.
Where can I order these signs?
You can obtain copies by:
For further information:
It is good business practice to develop a customer privacy policy based of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Is there a privacy policy sample policy?
Each business is unique in how they collect, use, and store customer information. We recommend you follow PIPEDA’s 10 Tips to guide you in creating your privacy policy.
What if I fail to comply with the personal information protection standards?
Potential fee of up to $100,000.
What is the Accessibility for Ontarians Act?
The Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act that all employers in Ontario need to follow in order to reduce barriers or challenges that an employee or customer with disability may encounter.
What am I required to train my employees under accessibility law?
Train all your employees on:
If you have an employee that enforce regulations or handle your human resources process, train your employees on:
If your business provides services for the following means, train you employees with the following:
How do I keep track of which of my employee has completed a training
Ensure you keep a record of your employees training by using the sample certificate (check off relevant training completed) or the confirmation of training document. If you decided to conduct a group training, use the record keeping document.
Do I need an accessibility policy for my business?
On your job posting or on your website, you should let all those that apply that you will accommodate the needs of people with disability, during hiring process.
Ontario Government proposed sample message:
[Name of Organization] welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
During the hiring process, tell job applicants when they are selected for an interview that accommodation will be provided.
If an applicant or successful candidate requests an accommodation, discuss their needs with them and make adjustments to support them.
How do I create an emergency preparedness plan for an employee I know has a disability?
The Ontario government has provided:
How do I make it easy for those with disability, employee or customer, to provide feedback?
The Ontario government has provided:
Am I required to complete a Compliance Report?
If you have more than 20 employees, you have to complete a Compliance Report. The next Compliance Reporting deadline is December 31, 2020.
What if I fail to comply with the accessibility laws?
Potential fine of up to $500.00 (up to $2000 for the first offence).