Ontario Employment Standards Guide
Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 sets minimum standards for most workplaces in the province. As Canada's most populous province and economic centre, Ontario has some of the most comprehensive employment legislation in the country, including the AODA for accessibility.
Key legislation
- Employment Standards Act, 2000
- Human Rights Code
- Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Act
- Labour Relations Act
- Pay Equity Act
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Employment standards at a glance
Minimum wage
$17.60/hour
Standard workweek
44 hours
Overtime threshold
44 hours/week
Public holidays
9 statutory holidays
Vacation minimum
2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 years
Notice of termination
1 week (3 months) to 8 weeks (8+ years)
Protected grounds
Human Rights Code (RSO 1990, c H.19)
- Age
- Ancestry
- Citizenship
- Colour
- Creed
- Disability
- Ethnic origin
- Family status
- Gender expression
- Gender identity
- Marital status
- Place of origin
- Race
- Record of offences
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Leave types
- Pregnancy leave (17 weeks)
- Parental leave (61-63 weeks)
- Family responsibility leave (3 days)
- Sick leave (3 days)
- Bereavement leave (2 days)
- Family caregiver leave (8 weeks)
- Family medical leave (28 weeks)
- Critical illness leave (37 weeks)
- Child death leave (104 weeks)
- Crime-related child disappearance leave (104 weeks)
- Domestic or sexual violence leave (10 days + 15 weeks)
- Organ donor leave (13 weeks)
- Reservist leave (unpaid)
Legislation and workplace agencies
- Employment Standards Act, 2000 (SO 2000, c 41)
- Human Rights Code (RSO 1990, c H.19)
- Occupational Health and Safety Act (RSO 1990, c O.1)
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
Key industries in Ontario
- Financial Services
- Technology
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Agriculture
- Film & Media
- Automotive