THE EMPLOYERS' EDGE
ESA Wage Recovery Reforms Take Effect – Removal of Cap and Extension of Recovery Window for Employee Claims
The sweeping changes brought on by The Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014 (formerly Bill 18) have begun to take effect. The Act received Royal Assent On November 20, 2014 and amendments to various labour and employment statutes were staggered between taking immediate effect to 2 years from the date of royal assent. As outlined in our previous blog, amendments to the Employment Standards Act pertaining to unpaid wage recovery was scheduled to take affect February 20, 2015. On and after this date the previous $10,000 cap on unpaid wages is removed. Therefore an employment standards officer may order employers to pay an unlimited amount of unpaid wages that became due after February 20, 2015. Furthermore, the window open to an assessment for unpaid wages has been increased from 6 months to 2 years.
Please CONTACT one of our lawyers who practice in the area of Employment Standards Act compliance to assist with any questions you may have about these legislative reforms and potential liability as an employer.
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