More than just a raise in Minimum Wage in the “Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act 2017”

Ontario will have the highest minimum wage in Canada for the next ten months as the Ontario Legislature has passed the “Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act 2017” which takes affect January 1st 2018. That number is slated to climb even higher next year, with a $15 minimum wage coming into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.

Ontario general minimum wage workers begin making $14 an hour, a 21% increase from the $11.60 just last week. But general minimum wage is not the only change this new act effects.

Liquor servers, hunting and fishing guides, homeworkers and students under 18 will also see their minimum wage rates rise, although not to the full $14 rate. Instead, their pay has been bumped up as follows:
– Non-adult students: $13.15, up from $10.90
– Liquor servers: $12.20, up from $10.10
– Hunting and fishing guides: $70 or $140 (depending on hours worked), up from $58 or $116
– Homeworkers: $15.40, up from $12.80
Individuals in those roles will also receive a second pay bump on Jan. 1, 2019.

Other changes include:
– three weeks of paid vacation for all employees who have been with a company for five years
– up to 104 weeks of leave for the death of a child from any cause
– up to 104 weeks of leave for the crime-related disappearance of a child
– personal emergency leave extended to include employees at companies with fewer than 50 employees
– personal emergency leave now allowed for employees experiencing or under threat of sexual or domestic violence
– employers cannot request a sick note for personal emergency leave
– employees entitled to 10 personal emergency leave days per year (including two paid days)
– family medical leave time increased to up to 27 weeks in a 52-week period

For more information on the “Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act 2017”, Ontario’s News Release can be found here, but a more detailed review of the changes can be found on their page here. The actual act can be found here.