New standard under disability legislation requires employers to be more proactive
The bar for accommodation for Ontario employers is about to be set a little higher. The final version of the Employment Accessibility Standard developed under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, has been released and is expected to become law early in 2010. The standard creates new obligations for employers with respect to recruitment, hiring, retention, training, accommodation, separation and termination of Ontarians with disabilities. It outlines what persons with disabilities can expect in the workplace and extends employers’ legal duty to accommodate beyond the Ontario Human Rights Code’s requirements. Given the direct financial and legal implications, it is crucial for employers to familiarize themselves with their new obligations and budget expenditures to ensure compliance.
