The Employment Standards under the AODA and the Accessible Employment Standard under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act both require organizations to make employment processes and practices accessible to workers with disabilities. Moreover, both standards require many of the same processes and practices to ensure accessibility. However, there are many important differences between the standards. The third review of the AODA recommends that the Ontario government should coordinate with other provinces and the federal government to ensure that accessibility laws are consistent across Canada. Therefore, requirements in the AODA may one day change to align with mandates under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. In this article, we will explore accessible workplace information in Ontario and Manitoba.
Accessible Workplace Information in Ontario and Manitoba
The AODA’s Employment Standards and the Accessible Employment Standard of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) both require employers to provide accessible workplace information. In both provinces, employees can request to receive information in accessible formats or with communication supports. Employers must consult with workers making these requests, to find out which formats and supports will be best. Then, employers must provide the workers with the information using the chosen formats or supports.
Differences
In Ontario, the requirement to provide accessible workplace information applies to two types of information:
- Documents or announcements available to every worker in an organization, such as:
- Company newsletters
- Health and safety information
- Announcements of policy updates
- Memos or word-of-mouth details about workplace social activities
- What a worker needs to do their job, such as:
- Presentations or videos
- Handouts or discussions at meetings
- Manuals or guidelines
In contrast, Manitoba’s requirement does not limit the kind of accessible information a worker can request.
Ontario’s accessibility law may one day align with Manitoba’s by mandating more accessible workplace information.