Stronger Worker Protections and Hospital Reporting

Summary#

Bill 77 changes Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act to better protect workers who speak out about workplace violence and harassment. It also makes hospitals and long-term care homes post monthly counts of violence and harassment incidents on their websites. The bill takes effect once it becomes law.

• Adds clear protection for workers who report or talk publicly, in good faith, about workplace violence, harassment, or other safety problems.
• Defines “reprisal” as any action that harms a worker’s job, including firing, demotion, pay or hour cuts, transfers, threats, or intimidation.
• Lists many protected actions, such as asking for advice, seeking enforcement, joining safety committees, joining investigations, testifying, or refusing to do something believed to break the law.
• Requires every hospital and long-term care home to post, at least monthly, the number of workplace violence incidents and the number of harassment incidents from the prior month.

What it means for you#

• Workers (all sectors)

  • You are protected if you report workplace violence or harassment, raise other safety concerns, or speak to the public about them, as long as you act in good faith.
  • Your employer cannot legally punish you for joining a safety committee, helping an investigation, asking for enforcement, or testifying.
  • Punishment can include firing, demotion, schedule or location changes, pay cuts, suspension, threats, or other actions that harm your job.
  • You are protected if you refuse to do something you reasonably believe breaks safety law.

• Health care workers (hospitals and long-term care)

  • Your workplace must post the number of violence and harassment incidents every month on its website.
  • The public, your union, and coworkers will be able to see trends and hold leaders accountable.

• Hospitals and long-term care homes

  • You must track and post monthly counts of violence and harassment incidents on your website.
  • Expect more attention from staff, unions, patients, residents, and families about safety trends.
  • You may need stronger reporting systems and clearer internal communication to ensure accurate counts.

• Patients, residents, and families

  • You will be able to check a hospital’s or long-term care home’s website each month to see how many incidents occurred.
  • This can help you ask better questions about safety and prevention measures.

Expenses#

Estimated ongoing cost: small administrative costs for hospitals and long-term care homes; possible added costs for employers handling complaints and investigations.

• Hospitals and long-term care homes: time and tools to collect, verify, and post monthly counts; website updates.
• Employers (generally): possible costs linked to more reporting, investigations, training, and handling reprisal claims.
• Government: potential small increase in oversight and complaint handling.
• Possible savings: better prevention may lower injury costs, absenteeism, turnover, and legal disputes over time.
• No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Workers can speak up about violence and harassment without fear, which encourages reporting and early fixes.
• Clear rules against reprisals stop subtle punishment and protect whistleblowers.
• Monthly public data in hospitals and long-term care increases transparency where risks are high.
• Public reporting helps workers and families compare facilities and push for improvements.
• Better data and accountability can lead to safer workplaces and fewer incidents.

Opponents' View#

• Monthly posting adds paperwork and may pull time and money from patient and resident care.
• Raw counts can be misleading; higher numbers may reflect better reporting, not worse safety.
• Broad reprisal rules and protection for public disclosures could increase disputes or reputational harm from unfounded claims.
• Privacy concerns may arise, especially in small facilities, even if only totals are posted.
• Monthly frequency may be too often; some prefer quarterly or internal reporting with more context.