Share this Post
Ontario is on the brink of a groundbreaking change for job seekers. Employers will soon be required to unveil salary details or a salary range when posting job openings. This mandate, a key part of the upcoming “Working for Workers” legislation, aims to enhance transparency for individuals seeking employment. The legislation is set to be presented when Members of Provincial Parliament reconvene at Queen’s Park during the week of Nov. 14.
Labour Minister David Piccini emphasized the importance of salary transparency, stating that when worker salaries are shrouded in secrecy, only businesses benefit. He highlighted the frustration of job applicants who discover at the end of a hiring process that the offered salary falls far short of their expectations. Piccini acknowledged the need for careful consideration in establishing the salary range requirements to avoid continued lack of transparency, hinting that the government may initially focus on salaries below $100,000 annually.
The minister stressed the significance for working-class individuals, often earning less than six figures, to understand the salary ranges as they strive for better opportunities and increased earnings. Ontario joins British Columbia in mandating wage disclosures, a move that also bars employers from soliciting job seekers’ pay history.
Highlighting a 2022 report from the International Labour Organization, it was emphasized that pay transparency policies expose wage gaps between different demographic groups. In the United States, several cities have already made it mandatory for employers to disclose salary ranges in job postings.
The legislation in Ontario won’t just focus on wage transparency but will also demand that businesses inform job seekers about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the hiring process. Piccini acknowledged the increasing prevalence of AI in workplaces and highlighted the concerns of potential biases and privacy fears. Nonetheless, he also noted studies indicating that AI could aid in addressing issues like pay equity during hiring.
The initiative in Ontario stands out, as it will mark the first time in Canada that disclosures regarding AI usage in the hiring process will be mandated. This move signals a significant step toward ensuring transparency and fairness for job seekers in the evolving landscape of employment.
Published by Hear Her Stories