Educational resources
Overview
We work to create an environment where employers and employees understand their rights and obligations under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), including by providing educational resources to encourage compliance with the ESA.
This page lists educational resources that help explain your rights and obligations as they relate to employment standards.
Online tools and resources
Employment standards self-service tool
Use this tool to determine if the amounts paid to an employee meet minimum standards for the following ESA provisions, and how these employment standards apply in the workplace:
- minimum wage
- overtime
- public holiday pay
- notice of termination and termination pay
- severance pay
- wage statements
- poster requirements
- unauthorized deductions
- record keeping
- hours of work and eating periods
- timing of vacation pay
Guide to employment standards special rules and exemptions
Find information on job categories and employees that are not covered by certain parts of the ESA or that are subject to special rules.
Educational videos
Know your rights
An overview of the ESA’s core standards and where to find additional information on each standard.
Illegal deductions from wages
Explains what constitutes an illegal deduction from wages. This video is available in eight languages in addition to English and French.
What to expect during an employment standards inspection
Find out what to expect and how to best prepare for an employment standards inspection.
Filing a claim
What to expect when filing an employment standard claim.
Employer portal
An overview of the portal features, including how to get access and use the portal.
Tips or other gratuities
Details your rights and obligations with respect to tips or other gratuities under the ESA.
Claimant portal
An overview of the portal features, including how to sign up and use the portal.
Information sessions
The ministry, in partnership with organizations across Ontario, provides general information sessions on the Employment Standards Act (ESA).
These information sessions are delivered by subject matter experts from the ministry and cover topics such as hours of work, public holidays, leaves of absence and more.
To sign up for a session, check the calendar below and contact the host directly. This calendar is updated as new sessions are scheduled.
| Date/time | Location | Organization | Topic | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
May 7, 2025 10 a.m. to | Webinar | Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development | Employment Standards Act Overview for Employees | Zoom Registration |
May 12, 2025 10 a.m. to | Webinar | Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development | Employment Standards Act Public Holidays Overview | Zoom Registration |
May 14, 2025 10 a.m. to | Webinar | Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development | Employment Standards Act Overview for Employers | Zoom Registration |
June 4, 2025 10 a.m. to | Webinar | Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development | Employment Standards Act Vacation Time and Vacation Pay Overview | Zoom Registration |
If you would like to request an information session about an ESA topic outside of the sessions listed in the calendar, please email EOP@Ontario.ca. Please note: Our ability to provide a session depends on the availability of staff and number of attendees (minimum of 10 participants).
Policy and interpretation manual
This manual is for policies that the director of employment standards uses to interpret, administer and enforce the ESA.
As part of continuously improving our services for the public, we are interested in exploring new ways of information sharing, education and outreach. If you have a suggestion or request, contact EOP@ontario.ca.