Ontario Strengthening Wage Protections for Restaurant Workers

The government is introducing the Working for Workers Four Act, 2023, which would, if passed, continue to lead the country with a package of ground-breaking protections for workers.

These proposed changes would help the over 400,000 people in the restaurant and hospitality industry by updating the province’s Employment Standards Act, including by banning unpaid trial shifts and making clear employers can never deduct an employee’s wages in the event of a dine and dash, gas and dash, or any other stolen property.

No worker should have their pay deducted or see themselves put in harm’s way because someone else is breaking the law.

While Ontario’s laws generally require employees to be paid for all hours worked and prohibit pay deductions, unpaid trial shifts and punitive deductions are still common in the restaurant and service industries. 

This government is also proposing changes that would require employers to post in the workplace if they have a policy of sharing in pooled tips – something that is only allowed if they perform the same work as their staff.

Finally, in response to the rise of digital payment platforms in the service industry, which can include fees for workers to access their funds, the proposed changes would require employers who pay tips using direct deposit to allow their employees to select which account they want them deposited to. (This would help workers avoid fees they don’t want so they can access their tips in full when needed.)

Today’s proposed legislation expands on the ground-breaking actions under the Working for Workers Acts, 2021, 2022 and 2023, that are already helping millions of people.

Learn More: https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1003820/working-for-workers-four-act-2023