CNESST
The Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité de travail (CNESST) is a provincial agency responsible for resolving conflicts dealing with labour standards, compensation for workplace injury, and equal pay for equal work.
In addition to offering alternative methods to resolve disputes between employers and employees (like mediation), the CNESST can investigate your complaints about harassment and other violations of your employment rights, such as when your employer:
In addition to offering alternative methods to resolve disputes between employers and employees (like mediation), the CNESST can investigate your complaints about harassment and other violations of your employment rights, such as when your employer:
Fails to pay you owed wages;
Denies you time off for statutory holidays;
Denies you time off due to illness, accident, or family-related matters (depending how long you have worked for your employer);
Denies you parental leave; or
Fires you without a valid reason.
Denies you time off for statutory holidays;
Denies you time off due to illness, accident, or family-related matters (depending how long you have worked for your employer);
Denies you parental leave; or
Fires you without a valid reason.
The CNESST has the ability to represent non-unionized employees during hearings about their complaints at the Administrative Labour Tribunal.
It is also responsible for keeping employees and employers informed of their rights and responsibilities through telephone assistance and free publications on their website, some of which is offered in English online.
When contacting the CNESST via telephone (1-844-838-0808):
Be aware there is an automated voice recording in French explaining the services and information offered by the CNESST that must be listened to before you can request listening to the same information in English by pressing “9”.
Take a look at the CNESST webpage for more English-language information on working conditions, workplace safety, and pay equity.
You can visit the CNESST website to file a complaint online. You can also visit its Complaints and Recourses webpage to learn of all the different types of complaints you may file.
When filing a complaint, be aware that the CNESST’s online portal MonEspace, through which complainants may check on the status of their case, is available only in French.
CNESST Services in English
While only available in French, the CNESST’s Language Policy outlines the limited circumstances where you may use English in communications and dealings with the CNESST.
While significant portions of the CNESST’s legal information and procedural information (for filing a complaint) are available online in English, the Office Québécois de la langue française requires that all official communications be done in French.
However, CNESST staff are permitted to communicate in English with Indigenous persons, or individuals or organizations from outside Quebec.
Regarding telephone conversations, CNESST staff can assist and communicate with you in English if you do not speak or understand French well enough to carry out a conversation.
CNESST staff addressed in a language other than French must first verify whether you are able to understand French. They will most likely do this by asking you directly.
If you then confirm that you cannot understand French, then the CNESST representative can continue to speak to you in English.
If the CNESST representative is unable to speak in English, they can find a coworker who can better serve you.
NOTE: Based on the wording of the CNESST’s Language Policy, while staff members are allowed to help you in English in certain circumstances, they are not obligated to do so.
Administrative Labour Tribunal (TAT)
Created in 2016 through the merger of the Commission des relations du travail and the Commission des lésions professionnelles, the Administrative Labour Tribunal (the Tribunal administratif du travail, or TAT) is a provincial body that oversees conflicts involving labour relations and worker health and safety.
The TAT can also hear appeals of CNESST decisions in matters of worker health and safety.
The TAT is made up of four distinct divisions, each overseeing a particular area of employment rights.
The TAT can also hear appeals of CNESST decisions in matters of worker health and safety.
The TAT is made up of four distinct divisions, each overseeing a particular area of employment rights.
Labour relations division: makes rulings pertaining to employment protections, employee freedom of association, bargaining rights and pay equity.
Occupational health and safety division: hears appeals relating to workplace safety by employers or employees who wish to contest a decision made by the CNESST.
Essential services division: ensures that essential services are maintained to protect the population during lawful strikes or unlawful pressure tactics by a workforce.
Construction industry and occupational qualification division: makes rulings concerning matters pertaining to the construction industry.
Occupational health and safety division: hears appeals relating to workplace safety by employers or employees who wish to contest a decision made by the CNESST.
Essential services division: ensures that essential services are maintained to protect the population during lawful strikes or unlawful pressure tactics by a workforce.
Construction industry and occupational qualification division: makes rulings concerning matters pertaining to the construction industry.
The TAT is also responsible for keeping employees and employers sufficiently informed of their rights and responsibilities through telephone assistance (webpage available in French only) and free publications on their website, some of which is offered in English online.
If you wish to contact the TAT via telephone or email, please consult our English-language translation of the TAT’s Regional Offices Directory.
You can also take a look at the TAT’s “English Content” webpage for more information about the Tribunal, as well as access to some English-language forms and publications.
TAT Services in English
Available in both French and English, the TAT’s Language Policy outlines the occasions where you have the right to use English in your communications and dealings with the Tribunal.
According to the Policy, you may have your case heard in English.
When making a claim at the TAT, you may request English versions of forms needed in the course of your case before the Tribunal, some of which are already posted onto the TAT’s English-language website in downloadable Word or PDF formats.
According to the Policy, you may have your case heard in English.
When making a claim at the TAT, you may request English versions of forms needed in the course of your case before the Tribunal, some of which are already posted onto the TAT’s English-language website in downloadable Word or PDF formats.
All complaints to the TAT are filed online or by email, sent to the regional office responsible for the case. However, the online application systems (mentioned directly below) are only available in French.
Click here to access the portal to contest a CNESST decision.
Click here to file a complaint with the TAT’s labour relations, essential services, and construction industry divisions.
Click here to access the portal to transmit documents pertinent to your case at the TAT.
Click here to file a complaint with the TAT’s labour relations, essential services, and construction industry divisions.
Click here to access the portal to transmit documents pertinent to your case at the TAT.
Whether you participate in an alternative method to resolving their conflict (for example, through formal talks and negotiations, mediation, or other approaches) or participate in a hearing before the TAT, you have the right to express yourself and be heard in English.
Rulings made by the Tribunal are written in French unless the judge decides otherwise. If written in French, an English-language translation of the ruling may be provided for free at your request.
Written communications (such as letters or e-mails): TAT staff can assist and communicate with you in English if you do not write or understand French well enough to correspond.
Telephone conversations: TAT staff can assist and communicate with you in English if you do not speak or understand French well enough to carry out a conversation.
If you call the TAT and speak to their staff in a language other than French must first check whether you are able to understand French. They will most likely do this by asking you directly.
If you confirm that you do not understand French, then the TAT representative can continue to speak to the caller in English.
If the TAT representative is unable to speak in English, they can find a coworker who can better assist you in English.
If the TAT representative is unable to speak in English, they can find a coworker who can better assist you in English.
NOTE: Based on the wording of the TAT’s Language Policy, while staff members are allowed to help you in English in certain circumstances, they are not obligated to do so.
Also, on June 1, 2022, the Quebec government officially passed Bill 96, a new law that would require all government institutions to follow the rules of a universal language policy, to be drawn up by the Ministry of the French Language. This state-wide language policy:
Requires government institutions to draw up guidelines pinpointing the situations in which it is acceptable to provide services in English; and
Tightens the rules around when a government institution is allowed to offer services to the public in English.
Tightens the rules around when a government institution is allowed to offer services to the public in English.
While the Ministry’s language policy has not yet been released, these modifications could narrow the TAT’s Language Policy and further restrict the TAT’s ability to offer its services to Quebecers in English.
The bill also:
No longer requires that all judges appointed to the Quebec tribunals have English-language skills; and
Require all written English-language judgments to include a French-language translation.
This new bill could make it harder for English-speakers in Quebec to access to have their case at the TAT heard in English.
The bill was long discussed in consultations before the Committee on Culture and Education at the National Assembly. More information will be provided as new developments emerge.
Social Security Tribunal of Canada
The Canadian Social Security Tribunal (SST) is an independent, federal administrative body that hears appeals from Service Canada on employment insurance matters and makes decisions related to regular benefits, illness and parental benefits, etc.
The SST can hear appeals on employment insurance matters from both federally regulated and provincially regulated employees.
The following are a few examples of the kinds of appeals the SST can hear:
The SST can hear appeals on employment insurance matters from both federally regulated and provincially regulated employees.
The following are a few examples of the kinds of appeals the SST can hear:
Where you quit your job and can demonstrate you had no other option but to quit.
Where you can demonstrate that you were both capable and available to work as well as actively looking for work.
Where you can demonstrate that you were both capable and available to work as well as actively looking for work.
The SST cannot hear appeals relating to accelerating payment or stopping repayment of employment insurance.
Before a case can be appealed to the SST, you must first have Service Canada (through the Canada Employment Insurance Commission) reconsider and stand by their original decision.
Once Service Canada reconsiders, and stands by, their original decision, you may then appeal that reconsidered decision.
When filing an appeal, the Notice of Appeal Employment Insurance form (either online or downloadable as a PDF document) must be submitted to the SST within 30 days of Service Canada issuing the reconsideration of their original decision.
You can visit the SST website for complete instructions on How to Start an Appeal, including the forms needed for employment insurance appeals.
All supporting documentation and forms needed for an appeal can be sent to info.sst-tss@canada.gc.ca.
Call the SST’s toll-free phone number at 1-877-227-8577 Monday to Friday (7am–7pm) for more information.
