OTTAWA — Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk says proposed rules to provide flexible work options for federally-regulated workers won't become a burden on small businesses.
Mihychuk says small- and medium-sized businesses will have the right to refuse any requests if they need to protect their companies, no matter what rules the federal government ultimately enacts.
She says, however, that saying no to requests for changes in hours, for instance, could result in staff leaving.
Mihychuk met her provincial counterparts last week to talk about the proposal that would, if implemented, allow federally regulated workers to request changes in where they work or their schedules, or to seek time off to deal with a personal situation like caring for an ailing family member.
A discussion paper the government posted online last month as part of consultations on the proposal says workers are struggling to find a better work-life balance and millennials are demanding more flexibility over when, where and how they perform their jobs.
The paper also places an emphasis on aboriginal needs that wasn't explicitly addressed in an earlier draft of the document.
