Dress codes are to be determined by the employer. An employer can make a deduction from wages to cover the cost of a uniform, or other clothing requirements if the employee has signed a specific written authorization permitting the deduction and setting out its amount. Dress codes, however, cannot violate a collective agreement at the workplace, the Ontario Human Rights Code, or the rules under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Emergency Leave is legislated under the Employment Standards Act. The minimum standard is unpaid, job-protected leave of up to 10 days each year. Only employees who work for employers that regularly employ at least 50 employees are entitled to emergency leave in certain situations. It may be taken in the case of personal illness, injury and medical emergency, or a death, illness, injury, medical emergency or urgent matter relating to a certain relative. For more information, visit the Ministry of Labour's Fact Sheet on Emergency Leave.
Employee Discounts may be given, but are not required in the workplace. The decision is up to the employer.
Family Medical Leave is covered under the Employment Standards Act. It is unpaid, job-protected leave of up to 8 weeks in a 26 week period. Family medical leave may be taken to provide care and support to certain family members for whom a qualified health practitioner has issued a certificate stating that the family member has a serious illness with a significant risk of death occurring within a period of 26 weeks. For more information, visit the Ministry of Labour's Fact Sheet on Family Medical Leave.
Meal Breaks are mandated for employees under the Employment Standards Act. An employee must not work for more than consecutive five hours without getting a 30-minute eating period free from work. However, employers are not required by law to provide any breaks in addition to this eating period. Should the employer choose to provide another break, the employee must remain at work during the break, and must be paid at least the minimum wage for that time.
Minimum Wage
| Minimum Wage Rate (per hour) |
Feb 1, 2007 | Mar 31, 2008 | Mar 31, 2009 | Mar 31, 2010 (current) |
| General Minimum Wage | $8.00 | $8.75 | $9.50 | $10.25 |
| Students (under 18 and working less than 28 hours a week, or working on a school holiday) |
$7.50 | $8.20 | $8.90 | $9.60 |
| Homeworkers Wage (people doing paid work in their home for an employer. This rate applies to students of any age employed as homeworkers) |
$8.80 | $9.63 | $10.45 | $11.28 |
Pensions are not mandated by the Employment Standards Act. If pensions are provided, employees must be able to continue participating in the plans when on pregnancy, parental, emergency leave or family medical leave.
(Portions of this page were borrowed from the Ontario Ministry of Labour)
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