12/22/2025
New Rules Coming in January 2026- Source Blog TO
Pay transparency laws
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, new pay transparency laws will come into effect in Ontario to make the hiring process fairer and more transparent for job seekers across the province.
The changes update Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), and will require employers to adjust their hiring practices. Under the new regulations, employers with 25 or more workers must include the expected compensation or salary range in a publicly advertised job posting, with the pay range being no broader than $50,000.
Postings where the top end of the range exceeds $200,000 annually are exempt from this rule. In most cases, all forms of pay must be disclosed, including bonuses, commissions, and any other non-discretionary compensation on top of the salary.
Companies must also disclose in job postings whether artificial intelligence is used to screen, analyze, or select applicants, and must disclose whether or not the position is for a current vacancy.
Employers must also follow up with every applicant who has been interviewed for a publicly advertised role. The province says these new rules aim to reduce "candidate ghosting" and will require employers to notify candidates, either in person or in writing, of the outcome within 45 days of their final interview.
