RLB Blog

As part of the province’s legislative requirements coming into effect January 1, 2026, employers need to prepare for a wave of recruitment and hiring transformations. With a focus on increasing fairness, transparency, and equity, these updates, introduced under the Working for Workers Four Act reforms and the Employment Standards Act (ESA) will reshape how employers advertise job postings and manage their recruitment process. Employers in Ontario with 25 or more employees must follow the new requirements for publicly advertised job postings:

Are you thinking about expanding your workforce by recruiting employees outside the province of Ontario?  It cannot be denied that there are many benefits of remote work, for example: no commute, fewer distractions, and individualized workspaces can result in remote workers being more productive than their office counterparts.  In addition, with the improved work-life balance that comes with remote work, retention increases while absenteeism decreases.

If you’re a small or medium-sized business in Ontario, mark your calendars: significant updates to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) and Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) are coming into effect in June and July 2025.

Employee engagement surveys can be a powerful tool for gathering feedback from your team members, understanding employee morale, and improving overall workplace satisfaction.  However, conducting these surveys comes with its own set of unique challenges and requires thoughtful consideration to yield meaningful results.

Continuous upskilling and training have become essential to the success of modern companies. As industries continue to embrace automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformations, employees understand that staying relevant means continuous learning for them as well. By equipping employees with the necessary skills for the future, companies can not only stay ahead of the competition but also foster a loyal, engaged workforce.

As in any interactive setting, the workplace is susceptible to conflict. While it’s something that many of us would rather do without, it’s important that conflict be addressed in order to foster a productive, harmonious work environment for all.

Statistics Canada reports that 35% of Canadians describe most days as “quite a bit” or “extremely stressful” due to financial issues. As a result of that heightened financial stress, employers may be seeing a reduction in productivity and an increase in absenteeism and turnover.  Investing in your workforce's financial literacy is a win-win for employers and team members.

As workplaces and the economy itself rapidly and continuously evolve, having strong internal leadership is imperative for the success of your organization.  For your leaders to promote engagement, be effective- problem solvers, and lead internal change management, they require strong supporting skills that empower and enable them to help the organization thrive.

It’s essential to stay informed about legislative changes that impact how we manage our teams. The Ontario government’s introduction of the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 marks a significant step forward in employee protections and support. This act builds on previous versions, aiming to enhance pathways into skilled trades, remove employment barriers, protect frontline workers, support women at work, and ensure fairness for jobseekers and employees. Here’s what you need to know to keep your business compliant and competitive.

In today's fast-paced and competitive world, the success of any organization hinges not just on its bottom line, but also on the well-being and satisfaction of its employees. A company's greatest asset is its workforce, and nurturing their holistic health and wellbeing goes beyond simply providing perks or benefits—it's about fostering a culture that prioritizes employee wellness and psychological safety.