What is the function of the Employment Standards Act in Ontario?

The Employment Standards Act (ESA) in Ontario plays a crucial role in establishing the legal framework for minimum employment standards within the province. It is designed to protect workers by ensuring that they have certain rights and protections at work. The Act sets forth minimum requirements related to various aspects of employment, such as wages, hours of work, overtime pay, vacation time, public holidays, and job-protected leaves.

By defining these baseline standards, the ESA ensures that all employees receive fair treatment in their workplaces and provides mechanisms for enforcing these rights. This framework is essential not only for the protection of workers but also for creating a fair and equitable working environment across the province.

While aspects like workplace dispute resolutions or employee performance reviews are important in the employment context, they are not the primary focus of the Employment Standards Act. The ESA does not specifically govern hiring practices or employee performance metrics; instead, it is fundamentally concerned with the basic rights and working conditions that all employers must adhere to.