New legislation aims to restore balance in Alberta’s workplaces

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

The Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act will offer clearer and more transparent rules for employers and employees, promoting fairness and productivity.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

It will also include more clarity about rest periods and temporary layoff notices.

“As businesses reopen, we need to support out job creators. We told Albertans we would get them back to work and make it easier to do business in Alberta. That’s exactly what we’re doing by cutting this unneeded red tape,” said Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction Grant Hunter.

The provincial government gathered 5,421 responses from an online public survey last November as part of the planning process for the proposed changes.

Bill 32 aims to:

• Restore balance and economic stability
  • Clarifying that employees continue to accumulate vacation time while on a job-protected leave.
  • Clarifying rules for rest periods and flexibility in scheduling breaks.
  • Restoring balance to the relationship between employers and employees with updated rules for union certification and revocation, such as removing strict timelines and remedial certification provisions.
  • Increasing employee choice by ensuring union members are not forced to fund political activities and causes without explicit opt-in approval.
  • Balancing employee rights to fair collective bargaining, striking and picketing with the need to protect businesses and the economy from harm, and ensuring Albertans continue to receive services they rely on.
  • Preventing unions from disciplining members if they take a significantly different job with a different employer.
  • Updating rules for collective agreements will allow an existing collective agreement to remain in place if employees in the construction industry choose a new union before it expires.
  • Changes to collective agreements and first contract arbitration will help reduce red tape, encourage stability and help employers and employees work together to reach agreements.
  • Increasing transparency and democracy in the workplace by making sure employees know how unions are spending their money.
  • Changing rules for construction industry to ensure workforce stability and to attract major projects and investment.
• Keep business open and Albertans employed
  • Updating rules for temporary layoff notices to help employees stay attached to their jobs for a longer period of time.
  • Employees could be laid off for 90 days in a 120-day period (for non-COVID layoffs).
  • Adding flexibility to rules for hours of work averaging arrangements to make it easier for employers to set up arrangements, create schedules, and calculate overtime.
  • Helping youth find work and reducing red tape and administrative burdens by expanding the types of jobs 13 and 14-year-olds can do without first needing a permit.
  • Providing flexibility to the Labour Relations Board to expedite processes and efficiency during an emergency.
• Save employers time and money
  • Creating simpler and more flexible rules for general holiday pay, group terminations, payment of final earnings upon termination, payroll processes and paying administrative penalties to help employers save time and money in their daily operations.
  • Making it easier for employers to apply for variances and exemptions.
  • Allowing unions and employers to agree on standards that may work for them.
  • Enabling the Labour Relations Board to serve employers, employees and unions more effectively by reducing administrative burdens, costs and unnecessary hearings.