In our December Snapshot, we advised you that the Ontario government passed Bill 18, which has made significant changes to a number of Ontario’s employment-related statutes. See our December Snapshot here: New Obligations for Employers in Ontario.

On February 20, 2015, the following changes from Bill 18 come into force:

• The limitation period within which employees must bring unpaid wages claims before employment standards officers (“ESOs”) is extended from six months to two years.
• The limitation period within which employees must bring unpaid vacation pay claims before ESOs is extended from six months to one year.
• The $10,000 limit on the amount of unpaid wages that ESOs can order employers to pay is removed such that there is no limit going forward.

Note that these changes are applicable only to wages and vacation pay that become due on or after February 20, 2015.