February 10, 2022 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
In today's world of work, the increased availability of mobile technologies and the rising number of Canadians working from home have blurred the lines between what it means to be "at work" and "not at work." Workers are often required to be constantly available, which can impact their mental health. This is an increasing challenge for many Canadians, with nearly half reporting that their mental health worsened during the pandemic.
With this in mind, the Government committed to developing a right-to-disconnect policy, in consultation with federally regulated employers and labour groups, so that workers can disconnect at the end of a workday without worrying about job security and can restore a healthy work-life balance.
Today, the Government published the Right to Disconnect Advisory Committee's final report, which provides recommendations to the Minister of Labour, Seamus O'Regan Jr. Over the course of its work, the Committee considered feedback from federally regulated employers, unions and representatives from other jurisdictions, as well as submissions made by Canadians and stakeholders through the Government's online consultation platform.
The Report outlines a series of recommendations, which reflect both the unique perspectives of committee members and areas of consensus, including the following:
- Employees should be paid for work performed.
- Establishing a positive work-life balance is a key goal of both employers and workers.
- There is a need for flexibility for both workers and employers.
The Government is considering all recommendations made by the Committee and intends to bring forward a plan for a right-to-disconnect policy in Canada.
