# data[].attributes.body
Word document questions

# data[].attributes.body
Although Wikipedia isn't the most reliable source, I found information on the website that gave me a better understanding of minimum wage and the demographic of minimum wage around Canada.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Under the Canadian Constitution, the responsibility for enacting and enforcing labour laws, including the minimum wage, rests with the ten provinces as well as the three territories which have been granted this power by federal legislation. Some provinces allow lower wages to be paid to liquor servers and other gratuity earners or to inexperienced employees.

# data[].attributes.body
This picture shows the employment standards in Canada. This picture is relevant to my topic because it shows the job standards and what employers need to provide to their employees.

# data[].attributes.body
I think this website is useful because of a few reasons. one being its a Canadian government website and they have updated information. The second reasons is that they have frequently asked questions that a lot of people are asking. Also it gives information on employment law and minimum wage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Labour standards, Labour code, Employee rights, Labour law, Canada Labour Code

# data[].attributes.body
This video is vary useful because it tells you what you can and can't do and also your rights in the work place. I found this information good because while working its always good to know your rights in the work place.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Employment Standards Act. Know your rights.

# data[].attributes.headline
Information on wages and pay deductions.

# data[].attributes.subject
Information on wages and pay deductions.

# data[].attributes.body
This is also another Canadian government website. I found this useful because it gave me information on the topic and other descriptions that are related to minimum wage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Notice: On April 1, 2019, changes to Part III of the Canada Labour Code will improve compliance and enforcement measures. To learn more please consult Recovering unpaid wages page.

Minimum wage

The federal minimum wage is the same as the general adult minimum wage set by each province or territory. Every time a provincial or territorial government raises its minimum wage, the federal rate for that region automatically increased.

For general information, please consult the Labour Program's Minimum wages (Pamphlet 2 - Labour standards).

Getting paid for your work

Wages must be paid to an employee on the regular payday established by the employer.

Any vacation pay owed to an employee by the employer must be paid at the time the employee takes their vacation. If the employment ends and the employee is owed vacation pay, the employer must pay it within 30 days after the employee's last day of work.

Deductions

In certain cases, employers are permitted to make deductions from an employee's pay.

Allowable deductions include those:

required by federal or provincial law, such as taxes and employment insurance premiums;

authorized by a court order, such as garnished child support payments, or by a collective agreement, such as union dues;

intended to recoup overpayment of wages; and

agreed to and authorized in writing by the employee, for example charitable donations, savings plan contributions, medical and dental premiums, life insurance and long- term disability premiums, pension plan or RRSP contributions, etc. To be valid, the proposed authorization should set out the specific amounts, purpose and frequency of the deductions to ensure that employees understand what they are signing and how/when it will affect them.

Employers cannot make deductions for money owed to them for property damage sustained or traffic tickets and fines incurred without the employee's voluntary agreement and written consent.

For general information, please consult the Labour Program's Deductions from wages (Pamphlet 13 - Labour standards).

For interpretations on the laws related to deductions, please consult the Labour Program's Deductions from wages or other amounts due to an employee (IPG-060).

Wage recovery assistance

The Labour Program's has legal authority to help employees collect unpaid wages or other amounts (e.g. wages for hours worked including overtime, vacation pay, general holiday pay, etc.) or other amounts (for example severance pay and pay in lieu of notice of termination of employment) owed to them by an employer.

The Labour Program can recover up to 24 months of unpaid wages (up from 12 months).When employment or payroll records are not provided, the Labour Program can determine wages or other amounts owed using the best available evidence.

There is also an opportunity to request a review for those who disagree with an inspector's decision.

For general information, please consult Wage recovery (Pamphlet 11 - Labour standards).

Complaints

An employee may file a complaint about unpaid wages and/or other amounts owed to them by a past or present employer.

To submit a complaint, employees should contact a Labour Program office.

For general information, please consult Filing a complaint (Pamphlet 1A - Labour standards).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Employment and Social Development Canada

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Notice: On April 1, 2019, changes to Part III of the Canada Labour Code will improve compliance and enforcement measures. To learn more please consult Recovering unpaid wages page. The federal minimum wage is the same as the general adult minimum wage set by each province or territory.

# data[].attributes.body
This picture shows minimum wage from 2005-2019. This picture is relevant because it shows the uprising in the pay for minimum wage in Ontario.

# data[].attributes.body
This link is to a YouTube video on Employment law in Canada. This video is useful because it gives you helpful/useful information that will give you a broad understanding of employment law

# data[].attributes.body
I found this website very useful because it had information about previous, current and future minimum wage information. Also they give examples of businesses that changed or are thinking of making changes to their current wages.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The new year brought in several changes in the province of Ontario, one of the most talked about is the coming changes to minimum wage that were highlighted in Bill 148. The wage went from $11.60 to $14.00, with another $1.00 increase effective January 1st, 2019.

Ultimately, the minimum wage is the lowest wage that an employer can pay an employee. Taken from the Ontario Government's website , this chart shows the recent changes, as well as the projected raises for minimum wage for several.

Politicians, celebrities, executives and the average workers all have opinions on the changes to the wage. Of course, these opinions come from either side of the fence, and they each make strong arguments.

The Arguments On The New Minimum Wage

The employers' perspective

With the new minimum wage, employers are seeing a direct boost in morale and positive attitudes among their employees. And some have welcomed these changes for their employees, as seeing a happy workforce also makes for a productive workplace.

However, not every employer sees it the 'bright side' of the change. There has been a lot of talk over how brands are reacting and telling their franchise owners how to handle the new minimum wage.

Some brands, such as Tim Horton's , have been covered in the media as taking an alternate route and creating chaos among their workforces. They've allegedly cut paid breaks, benefit programs and additional perks. Although in this example, the Canadian icon brand claims, through its website , that it was the actions of individual franchise owners and not the brand itself.

Some small-time employers, like local shop owners, have taken to their respective social media pages to call out the changes and claim that they are going to have to lay staff off or close their doors. So the arguments from large brands, to small mom and pop shops are similar in that they will have to cut perks to help meet the new legislation.

The average member of the workforce

Retail workers, customer service representatives and the many individuals who will soon be entering the workforce are obviously very pleased to know that they will soon be making something closer to a livable wage (as it has been described). With the prices of consumer products rising, and the housing market still unstable in the province, the rise in the minimum wage may help combat some of the stresses of daily life. Many statements have come out in defence of the raise to claim how it will help, and not hinder the economy.

The idea of this is that minimum wage employees now have the opportunity to enjoy themselves a little more outside of working to make ends meet. Essentially, they are able to spend more of the money they are making on luxuries instead of just necessities. With this spending, some argue that it will help open up more jobs in other industries to offset those lost by layoffs that some brands, or industries, may make.

On the flip side of this, is, of course, those who are suffering those layoffs, or benefit cuts that some brands are using. The argument is that they can no longer afford to increase their employee base because of giving a workforce-wide raise. And to help afford these rising costs, they are cutting some benefits to alleviate funds.

Moving forward

Realistically, the minimum wage increase will see positive and negative outcomes. Some places may close their doors; some brands may try to increase profit by having their employees pay for it. But, we will also see a rise in morale in the workforce, and the possibility of expanding on some industries to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Bill 148 has overall been a step in the right direction for Ontario's workplaces, by aiming to make them safer and employment more secure. A lot of what we are seeing now are short-term objectives by brands and reactionary statements by politicians and those in the public eye. Despite this being a heavily social issue, it has rooted itself as an almost strictly political issue, especially as we are heading into the next provincial election in a few months. It will take some time for things to settle in and allow critics and advisors to gauge whether or not the change will bring positive or negative outcomes.

The article was prepared by the employment lawyers at Hummingbird Lawyers LLP.

Related Articles
Discrimination In A Job Interview
Be first to comment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New Minimum Wage In Ontario - Employment Law - Hummingbird Lawyers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The new year brought in several changes in the province of Ontario, one of the most talked about is the coming changes to minimum wage that were highlighted in Bill 148. The wage went from $11.60 to $14.00, with another $1.00 increase effective January 1st, 2019.

# data[].attributes.body
I liked this video because it interviews real people in Canada and gave their own personal opinion on what they think of minimum wage and the amount in which it is at. I found this helpful because it gave me more to think about and also gave me a better understanding of what other people in Canada have to say about minimum wage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Minimum wage increase sparks increase in workers' complaints

# data[].attributes.body
This photo is a map of Canada that shows all minimum wage in Canada. This photo is relevant because it shows what every minimum wage worker is getting depending on what province/territory you live in. I liked this photo because it compares the minimum wages around Canada.