Employment lawyer on asking customers to mask at businesses

The province of Ontario is once again facing a rise in COVID-19 cases. Despite the latest wave of COVID-19, public health restrictions like vaccine passports and mandatory masking have not been reinstated by the provincial government. Can employers take matters into their own hands and reinstate policies in their businesses?

Jon Pinkus, a Toronto employment lawyer and Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke to the Toronto Star and commented on the difficulty of reinstating mandates.

“Businesses can also come into conflict with patrons,” says Pinkus and adds that “the law is still murky as there isn’t any case law in this area.”

Pinkus goes on to explain that businesses and employers od have the right to impose their own safety policies. “Businesses can legally ask customers for proof of vaccination or masking as the province said it is up to each business to create their own rules.’