Lori Sterling spoke with the Society for Human Resource Management on the new amendments to the Canada Labour Code, which took effect on September 1. The changes affect approximately 18,000 federally regulated employers and 900,000 workers in rail, aviation and shipping companies. Lori says, "if all existing reforms are implemented, this will be the most significant reform of the Canada Labour Code in the past 50 years."

She adds:

While the changes will increase costs for employers, those costs may be offset by productivity gains, Sterling noted.

"Federally regulated employees may be more productive while at work because of predictability in their shifts and longer periods away from work," she added. 

American businesses that operate in Canada under federal jurisdiction will be subject to these reforms for their Canadian employees.

"The new Canadian federal standards are more generous than what is provided by many—if not all—[labor statutes the] U.S. states," Sterling said. "When coupled with existing standards, the new federal package of reforms is more generous than any province in Canada."