Canada's Federal Pay Equity Regime Soon Begins

​Canada's Minister of Labor has announced that Canada's federal Pay Equity Act will take effect on Aug. 31. This is a big step toward eliminating systemic discrimination, reducing gender wage inequalities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and promoting equal pay for work of equal value in the federal sector.

The Pay Equity Act aims to achieve "pay equity" as opposed to "equal pay for equal work." Equal pay for equal work compares compensation paid to workers who are in the same or similar position, whereas pay equity compares the compensation provided to workers in different jobs. In particular, pay equity compares compensation provided to "predominantly female job classes" and "predominantly male job classes."

The Pay Equity Act regulates "compensation," not just "base pay." Under the Pay Equity Act, compensation is defined broadly to include remuneration and benefits provided to employees for the work they perform, including:

• Salaries, commissions, vacation pay, severance pay and bonuses.
• Payments in kind.
• Employer contributions to pension funds or plans, long-term disability plans and all forms of health insurance plans.
• Any other advantage received directly or indirectly from the employer.

Under the Pay Equity Act, federally regulated employers with 10 or more federally regulated employees will be required to:

• Establish a representative pay equity committee.
• Identify job classes and determine their gender predominance, if any.
• Evaluate each job class using a gender-neutral comparison system.
• Compare job classes, normally using the "equal average method" or the "equal line method."
• Draft and post a pay equity plan and provide employees with an opportunity to comment.
• Consider employee comments and implement the pay equity plan within three years.
• Increase compensation for the predominantly female job classes that are comparatively underpaid.
• Maintain pay equity and review the pay equity plan at least once every five years.
• Provide certain information to their pay equity committee and certain notices to their employees.
• File information (e.g. annual statements) with the pay equity commissioner.

The above list is subject to a very detailed and prescriptive set of rules and requirements established under the Pay Equity Act, and a corresponding regulation that was recently finalized.

Employers who fail to comply with the Pay Equity Act will face consequences. The Pay Equity Commissioner has authority to conduct a compliance audit under the act and may make orders requiring employers to comply. Administrative monetary penalties up to $50,000 (approximately USD 39,950) may be imposed. There will also be a process allowing employees, bargaining agents and employers to file a complaint with the pay equity commissioner, who may refer the matter to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

Employers should also be wary of the significant and costly harm noncompliance can have on their reputation and employee morale.

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In summary, the Pay Equity Act will present unique challenges to federally regulated employers, and compliance will require significant time and attention, particularly over the next three years as pay equity plans are developed and implemented. Federally regulated employers who have not already done so should immediately start to prepare for Canada's new pay equity regime with input from, among others, qualified legal advisors.

Many thanks to Sandy Park for her assistance with this article.

Content is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This may qualify as "Attorney Advertising" requiring notice in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. For more information, please visit: www.bakermckenzie.com/en/disclaimers.

Jordan Arthur Kirkness is an attorney with Baker McKenzie in Toronto. © 2021 Baker McKenzie. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission of Lexology.