According to a recent policy announcement by the Ontario government, starting January 1, 2026, employers will be legally required to follow basic standards of professional communication during the hiring process—a move being dubbed “making human decency a legal requirement.”
Specifically, employers must provide applicants with a clear response within 45 days of their final interview, and failure to comply could result in penalties. Job postings will also need to disclose if artificial intelligence is used in the hiring process, and language like “must have Canadian experience”—widely regarded as discriminatory—will now be explicitly prohibited. Employers must retain records of all applicant communications for at least three years.
This legislation comes in response to growing complaints about “ghosting” in job recruitment—where candidates vanish without feedback even after multiple interviews and assessments. With estimates showing that up to 75% of candidates never receive a final decision, Ontario aims to replace silence with standardized courtesy, bolstering accountability and transparency in the labor market. In effect, the province is raising the bar: no more unanswered emails, no more ambiguity—just honest, respectful closure for applicants.
Source: Medium
