Ontario bans non-competes and creates right to disconnect from work (gowlingwlg.com)

Article summary

The Ontario government has passed Bill 27, which prohibits non-compete agreements between employers and employees, with some exceptions for executives and business sellers. The bill also requires employers with 25 or more employees to develop a written policy on the right to disconnect from work. The policy must be provided to employees within 30 days of its creation, but the legislation does not specify what the policy must include. This change aims to attract and retain global talent and investments in Ontario.

Main themes

• non-compete agreements
• right to disconnect from work
• labor laws and regulations
• work-life balance
• freedom of contract
• worker rights and protections

What commenters say

• The right to disconnect from work policy is more about clarifying expectations than creating a new right.
• Freedom of contract is sufficient for well-paid professionals, but regulation is necessary for less well-off workers.
• The prohibition on non-compete agreements will incentivize new company formation and startups in Ontario.
• Some commenters believe that the new policy does not go far enough in protecting workers' rights, while others see it as a step in the right direction.
• The effectiveness of the policy will depend on how employers choose to implement it, and some may use it to clarify existing expectations rather than create new ones.
• The discussion highlights the differences in labor laws and regulations between Canada and the US, as well as between different provinces in Canada.
• Some argue that the policy is too vague and may not lead to significant changes in workplace practices, while others see it as a necessary step towards improving work-life balance.