Benchmark Bulletin

The COIRI Blog

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Workplace Wellness and EAP Benchmarks in Ontario

The 2026 COIRI Summary Report on Salaried Employees in Ontario covers wellness initiatives and EAPs in the same section, but the data shows a very different approach to each in terms of spend. EAPs are treated as a benefit, plain and simple. They are contracted and typically priced per employee. They sit in the benefits…

A glass-walled multi-story building shows busy workers inside, illuminated by bright lights, with shelves of boxes and equipment on each floor, suggesting a large, active warehouse or factory operating in line with employer benchmark data and projected Ontario shift premium rates for 2026.

Ontario Shift Premiums: 8-Hour, Night & Weekend Rates

Shift premium rates can be difficult to benchmark. There is no single standard rate across Ontario, and employer practices vary depending on the industry, type of operation, shift schedule, location and difficulty attracting employees to less desirable hours. Publicly available job postings and collective agreements can provide useful reference points, but some published rates may…

Toronto skyline at sunset with the CN Tower and high-rise buildings illuminated against a pastel sky, reflecting the vibrant opportunities available to employers under Ontario's Labour Mobility Act.

What Ontario’s Labour Mobility Act Changes for Employers

As of January 1, 2026, Ontario made it easier for credentialed workers from other provinces to work here. What’s notable for manufacturers is that this rollout covers non-health-regulated occupations. Healthcare mobility is also changing, but through separate amendments. The Ontario Labour Mobility Act introduced an “as of right” framework based on interprovincial credential recognition. This…

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How to Tell if You Have a Compensation Problem

Compensation problems usually get blamed on everything else first. “It’s a culture problem.” “People don’t want to work anymore.” “The manager needs to hire better.” “We’ve always paid this way.” The list is long. Any of those explanations might be true in a given case. But none of them should be assumed until compensation has…

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Ontario Compensation Benchmark Data: Building Competitive Salaries in the Era of Pay Transparency

Ontario’s pay transparency requirements have changed the conversation around compensation, and the requirement to publish salary ranges is much more than a compliance exercise. The new rules have the potential to highlight issues many organizations have been able to quietly manage for years, including internal equity concerns, inconsistent hiring decisions, pay compression, and outdated salary…

Five people in business attire sit around a table discussing documents with charts, graphs, and data related to salaries, the $50,000 Range Rule, and how employers handle this difficult question. Notebooks, coffee cups, and a potted plant are also on the table.

The $50,000 Range Rule is Forcing Employers to Answer a Difficult Question

For years, organizations could get away with being a little vague about compensation. A hiring manager would identify a strong candidate, negotiate a salary, and move on to the next hire. The salary range attached to that position was tucked away somewhere. Definitely not front and centre and the starting point of the conversation. It…

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Can HR use Job Postings for Accurate Compensation Benchmarking?

There has been a lot of talk about candidates and employees going online to benchmark jobs. In most cases, this is done without the benefit of context, so they often walk away with misleading information. But what about HR professionals? Is it okay for them to use Indeed or LinkedIn job postings to get a…

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The Benefits Benchmark: What Ontario Employers are Really Offering in 2026

Many HR teams struggle to compete with larger employers. When matching what the big players are offering on salary isn’t an option, how do you compete? It’s a fair question, particularly since Ontario’s pay transparency legislation has changed something in recruiting. When salary ranges are posted, candidates compare them instantly. For smaller employers who can’t…

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Your Compensation Data is now Public-Facing. Here’s how Ontario HR Leaders get it Right

Talk to any HR professional in Ontario right now and ask where all their time is going. The answer will be pay-related. Getting compensation right has always been a challenge. But the conversation was internal. You’d benchmark every couple of years, set your ranges, defend a few offers, sign off on the merit cycle, and…

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Pay Transparency Done Right: How to Explain Pay Differences to Employees (Without Losing Their Trust)

Ontario’s pay transparency rules took effect January 1, 2026. Compliance, while arduous for some, is straightforward. The conversations it triggers, however, are not. Some of the difficult conversations happening right now aren’t caused by new legislation. They’re caused by years of inconsistent hiring and unchecked compression. Here’s how to get it right. Prepare Managers &…

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Ontario Manufacturers: Are you Using a SUB Plan to Protect your Workforce?

If you’re an HR professional in Ontario manufacturing and you don’t have a SUB plan in place, it’s worth asking why not. More Ontario businesses are making them a core part of their workforce strategy, and for good reason. Replacing a skilled worker is expensive in recruiting fees, lost productivity, onboarding time, and the loss…