Earlier this week, CHPTA members had the opportunity to participate in HR Consultant Viki Scott’s latest webinar on updates to Ontario’s “Working for Workers Act” which includes Bill 27 (2021) and Bill 88 (2022) to ensure they understand their management responsibilities and compliance with the legislation.
The highlight features of Bill 27 which Viki discussed were having a written policy on Disconnecting from Work for employers with 25 employees or more which should have been in place by June 2nd of this year. Viki reviewed the key aspects of this requirement and considerations which companies should undertake. The other key part of the new legislation which Viki dealt with was on Non-Compete Agreements.
Viki then quickly covered off the other parts of Bill 27 which included:
- Amendment to the Employment Protection for Foreign National Act
- Licensing of Temporary Help Agencies
- Fair Access to Regulated Professionals & Compulsory Trades “Skilled Trades”
- WSIA – Change to the “rebate” criteria
- OH&SA – Reasonable access to washroom facilities – Delivery/Drivers
- Change to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs Act
The presentation then switched to the updates included in Bill 88 which was introduced earlier this year. The key parts of this legislation which Viki focused on were Electronic Monitoring (October 11, 2022 compliance), again for companies with 25 or more employees, Treatment of IT Consultants and having a Naloxone Kit Program where applicable.
Other Bill 88 updates touched upon were:
- Minimum Wage Increase
- Military Reservist Leave
- Fair Access to Regulated Professions + Compulsory Trade Act
- Increase in OH&S Penalties
About the Speaker
Viki Scott is the President and Principal Consultant & Chief Lobbyist of Scott & Associates Inc. Since 2005, Viki has managed a successful National Consulting Firm which provides solutions to Canadian-based companies with a concentration in Labour Management Relations, Conflict Risk Management, Occupational Health and Safety, Human Rights, Workplace Investigations, Organizational Development and Effectiveness, Business Continuity Planning and General Business Advisory Services.
Viki has an extensive history with both the public and private sectors, primarily in unionized environments. She has led significant change management initiatives for major public, not for profit and private sector organizations. She has particular expertise in labour management relations, with both employer and union sided experience, and has been successful in introducing workplace interest-based consensus models for managing identified areas of conflict. She has established a reputation for the effective work she has led resulting from her Transformative Mediation skills she brings to the parties for resolving conflict.
We thank Viki once again for taking the time to speak to our members and look forward to more of her updates in 2023.
