Quebec advocates for legislating the option of working from home
Quebec Solidaire (QS) is set to bring the right to work from home into law. The party will introduce a bill on May Day, aiming to Uphold this working practice, mimicking certain rules implemented in Europe.
As of now, there's no legislation ensuring employees can work remotely, despite it gaining widespread acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employers, therefore, can easily reject employees' requests for remote work. Ruba Ghazal, QS co-spokesperson, expressed concerns about "outdated employer attitudes towards remote work" in an interview with La Presse Canadienne. She explained that this can escalate into conflicts as employers try to exert more control over employees who work from home.
Alexandre Leduc, QS spokesperson for labor matters and bill sponsor, noted cases where employers eliminate telework altogether, without proper consultation, leaving employees powerless. Leduc proposes a hybrid solution, offering a mix of office and remote work.
Although the employer retains management power, Leduc acknowledged that the right to work from home is dependent on the nature of the work and technical feasibility. In the event of disagreements, he suggests the CNESST might mediate disputes, hoping to swiftly resolve these situations, just as for other labor standards.
Moreover, QS wants to bar employers from using telemonitoring software, viewing it as an inappropriate form of management and potentially harassment.
While the exact provisions of the bill are unavailable, European countries often recognize remote work as an employee right in a mutual agreement between employees and employers[1]. Countries such as Hungary, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, etc., have provisions in place for remote work[1].
This legislation is unlikely to receive much attention from the government, as opposition-tabled bills seldom get debated by the government[2]. Despite this, QS hopes to assert itself as "the voice of workers" by introducing this bill, even as the New Democratic Party (NDP) faced a significant setback in the recent federal elections.
[1]: Enrichment Data - The proposed legislation aims to formalize telework as a protected employment practice, set standards for work-life balance, and create enforceable protections for employees seeking flexible work arrangements.
[2]: Enrichment Data - Bills introduced by opposition parties often don't receive debates and are rarely studied in parliamentary committees towards adoption. The legislative initiative generally belongs to the government in Quebec.
- Quebec Solidaire aims to legislate the right to telework, similar to certain European countries, where remote work is recognized as an employee right.
- Despite its widespread acceptance during the pandemic, there's currently no legislation enforcing remote work in Quebec, allowing employers to reject employee requests.
- Alexandre Leduc, QS spokesperson for labor matters, suggests a hybrid approach to work, offering a mix of office and remote work, while addressing potential disagreements through mediation by the CNESST.
- In addition to the proposed legislation, QS aims to prevent employers from using telemonitoring software, viewing it as an inappropriate form of management and potentially harassment.
