Logging out: Demystifying an employee's right to disconnect

The “right to disconnect” is an issue that has gained prominence over the last few years, especially since the pandemic resulted in many employees working from home for extended periods of time.  

The Ontario government’s Bill 27, the Working for Workers Act, 2021, amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to require employers with 25 or more employees to have written policies in place on disconnecting from work.  The initial deadline to put these policies in place was June 2, 2022.  While these policies have been commonly described as “right to disconnect” policies, they do not create a freestanding “right to disconnect.”

Join Neil Dzuba and Patrick Twagirayezu as they host a webinar alongside OBJ's Michael Curran about the “right to disconnect” and the Bill 27 requirement to implement disconnecting from work policies. 

An informative and practical discussion will cover topics including:

• What is the “right to disconnect” and what does it mean for both employers and employees?
• How is the Bill 27 requirement to put a disconnecting from work policy in place different from a freestanding “right to disconnect”? 
• What should the contents of a disconnecting from work policy include? 
• What will having a disconnecting from work policy in place look like on a day-to-day basis?
• What other obligations does an employer have in relation to these policies?
• How can employers ensure that they remain up to date on disconnecting from work policies?

This webinar is sponsored by Emond Harnden LLP.