Ontario’s right-to-disconnect legislation takes effect today, requiring employers to have a written policy about employees disconnecting from their job at the end of the workday.
The legislation — which pertains to employers with 25 or more workers — passed last November and was introduced by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario as part of the Working for Workers Act 2021 in October ahead of today’s provincial election.
Read: Ontario passes right-to-disconnect legislation
The Liberal Party of Canada has also promised it would partner with federally regulated employers and labour groups to co-develop a right-to-disconnect policy for workers. In 2021, the federal labour minister said the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need to give employees the ability to avoid work emails and text messages as the lines between home and work lives blur.
Several European Union countries have enacted similar legislation in recent years, including Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Read: Employers, unions split on ‘right-to-disconnect’ legislation: advisory committee