“Right to disconnect law is toothless and vague”: Employment lawyer on Bill 27

The Ontario government has recently passed Bill 27 the Working for Workers Act. This legislation will ensure that workplaces with more than 25 employees have to implement a right to disconnect policy. This could mean employees are able to establish a better barrier between work and personal time. How will this legislation be implemented? Will the right to disconnect improve employee rights?

Jon Pinkus, a Toronto employment lawyer and partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke with the Toronto Star on the new legislation and insists this law won’t change much for employees and is “toothless”.

“It sets no minimum standards for what … the right to disconnect has to be,” says Pinkus. “It really imposes a procedural obligation on the employer without imposing any substantive obligation.”

Pinkus insists specifics need to be explained in order for this law to have an impact on workplaces. Pinkus does go on to acknowledge the act will force employers to take the matter seriously.

“I think that employers who are potentially somewhat inclined to do something may use this as kind of a wake-up call,” Pinkus states.