Ontario Mask Mandates: Current Rules & Employee Rights

Ontario no longer has a general provincial mask mandate. Most COVID-19 masking requirements ended in 2022, but employers can still require employees to wear masks for workplace health and safety reasons.

If you work in Ontario, here’s what you need to know about current mask rules, when the mandates ended and your rights if your employer requires you to wear a mask.

On This Page:

• Current Mask Rules in Ontario
• When Mask Mandates Ended
• Can Your Employer Require a Mask?
• Medical Exemptions
• Refusing a Workplace Mask Policy
• Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Mask Mandate in Ontario Right Now?

No. Ontario does not have a general province-wide mask mandate. The provincial government removed most mandatory masking requirements in 2022.

However, masks may still be required in certain workplaces or settings, depending on applicable health and safety rules, public health requirements and organizational policies.

Hospitals, long-term care homes and other healthcare facilities may have their own masking requirements. Check the facility’s current policy before visiting or working there.

When Did Ontario’s Mask Mandate Start and End?

Ontario introduced mask requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The rules changed as the province responded to public health conditions.

• 2020: Municipal and provincial masking requirements were introduced across Ontario.
• March 21, 2022: The province lifted mandatory masking in most indoor public settings, including schools, restaurants and retail stores.
• June 11, 2022: Most remaining provincial masking requirements ended, including those covering public transit and many healthcare settings.

These changes ended broad provincial mandates, but did not prevent employers and organizations from introducing their own health and safety policies.

Can Your Employer Force You to Wear a Mask in Ontario?

Yes. An Ontario employer can require employees to wear masks as part of a reasonable workplace health and safety policy, even without a government mask mandate.

Under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers must take reasonable precautions to protect workers.

A workplace mask policy should:

• Serve a legitimate health and safety purpose
• Be clearly communicated to employees
• Comply with Ontario’s human rights laws
• Account for employees who require accommodation

An employer doesn’t necessarily need a government order to enforce a reasonable workplace masking policy. Learn more in our guide to the OHSA.

Can You Get a Medical Exemption From Wearing a Mask?

Employees who cannot wear a mask because of a disability or medical condition may be entitled to workplace accommodation.

Under Ontario’s Human Rights Code guidance, employers must consider disability-related accommodation requests up to the point of undue hardship.

Depending on the circumstances, accommodation could include:

• An alternative type of face covering
• Changes to duties or the work environment
• Remote work, where practical
• Other appropriate health and safety measures

Employers don’t have to approve every requested exemption, but they must properly assess accommodation needs protected by human rights legislation. See our guide on the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Can You Be Fired for Refusing to Wear a Mask at Work?

Yes, refusing a lawful workplace mask policy can lead to discipline or termination. However, being fired doesn’t automatically mean you lose your right to severance.

Your rights depend on the circumstances, including whether the policy was reasonable, why you refused and whether your employer considered any legitimate accommodation request.

For non-unionized employees, a termination may still result in substantial compensation. Severance pay in Ontario can reach up to 24 months’ pay, depending on your age, length of service, position and other factors.

If your employer claims you were fired for cause and aren’t owed severance, don’t assume that’s correct. Read more about termination for cause and wrongful dismissal in Ontario.

Ontario Mask Mandates: Frequently Asked Questions

Are Masks Mandatory in Ontario Hospitals?

There is no general province-wide mask mandate covering all hospitals. However, individual hospitals and healthcare facilities can have their own masking requirements. Check the facility’s current rules.

Can Ontario Bring Back a Mask Mandate?

Yes. Ontario could introduce new masking requirements if public health circumstances warrant them. Any new rules would depend on the legal authority and requirements in effect at that time.

Can Your Employer Stop You From Wearing a Mask?

Employers should not prohibit employees from wearing masks without a legitimate health and safety reason. An employee who needs to wear a mask because of a disability may also have accommodation rights under Ontario’s Human Rights Code.

Can You Refuse to Wear a Mask Because You Disagree With the Policy?

Simply disagreeing with a workplace mask policy doesn’t automatically give you the legal right to refuse it. Employees with disability-related or other protected accommodation needs may have additional rights.

Fired Over a Workplace Mask Policy? Know Your Rights

If you’ve been fired or disciplined over a mask policy, you may have legal options. You could also be owed severance, even if your employer claims you were dismissed for cause.

The Ontario employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP help non-unionized employees understand their workplace rights and pursue the compensation they’re owed.

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