New electronic monitoring rules take effect today
After months of anticipation, the deadline for compliance with new rules around electronic monitoring in Ontario takes effect today.
As part of the Working for Workers Act, 2022, organizations that employ 25 or more employees are required to have in place a written policy on the electronic monitoring of employees.
The policy must state whether or not the employer electronically monitors employees. If it does, the policy must include:
- a description of how and in what circumstances the employer may electronically monitor employees
- how the information obtained through electronic monitoring may be used by the employer
- the date the policy was prepared and the date any changes were made to the policy
Read more: Preparing your electronic monitoring policy
Employers must also provide a copy of the written policy to all employees by Nov. 10, 2022.
In late August, the province updated its online guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to include a chapter on “Written policy on electronic monitoring of employees.”
Read more: Update: Government provides further guidance on electronic monitoring rules
“Electronic monitoring” includes all forms of employee and assignment employee monitoring that is done electronically. Some examples include:
- GPS to track the movement of an employee’s delivery vehicle
- an electronic sensor to track how quickly employees scan items at a grocery store check-out
- tracking which websites employees visit during working hours.
