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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/timeLocationOrganizationTopicRegister

November 27, 2024

10 a.m. to
11:30 a.m.

WebinarMinistry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills DevelopmentEmployment Standards Act  
Vacation Time and Vacation Pay Overview
Zoom Registration

December 4, 2024

10 a.m. to
11:30 a.m.

WebinarMinistry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills DevelopmentEmployment 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.