Toronto backtracks on return-to-office plans for city employees as Omicron spreads across country
VIA PRESS RELEASE
TORONTO, June 20, 2019 – The Ontario government today delivered in-person, online, and through social media messages to employees that the Provincial government is committed to delivering on its commitment to return employees to the workplace through early retirement. It is a commitment that has been a cornerstone of the government’s approach to delivering job security for workers since the passage of the Ontario Employment Standards Act in 1998.
The message delivered today with respect to both new and existing employees is that the government will meet the Ontario Employment Standards Act of 1998 by returning employees to the workplace at an earlier point in their career. This means returning employees to work at or around the age of 50 and no longer than 60.
Toronto and Durham Region are the only two municipalities in Ontario that will be returning employees to work at the early stage of their career. The province also plans to return employees to work at the earlier stage of their career for at least some employees across all job classifications across all areas of employment.
As part of the announcement, the Ontario government is committed to expanding the Omicron (Employee Retention) program to the rest of the province and to further support efforts in the three other provinces that do not have an Omicron program that allows for retirement at the point of early career. This will mean a broader, stronger network of support for returning employees in Ontario.
On June 15, 2019, Toronto City Council voted unanimously to pass a motion to direct Mayor John Tory and the chief administrative officer to continue the city’s employment services, workforce, and human resources office to return employees to the workplace at or around the age of 50. The motion passed without debate or opposition.
In addition, the Toronto City Manager has asked all the municipal managers across the city to continue the employment services, workforce and human resources office to return employees to the workplace at or around the age of 50.
“This is a great day for the city and is good for employees and employers. I would like to thank Chief Administrative Officer Mark Towles, Labour Director John Mullins, Toronto’s HRM staff, and the Mayor for their work on bringing this forward,” said Toronto City Council.
The Ontario government continues to commit that, by January 1, 2022, all employees will be encouraged to return
