Accessibility Standards Canada has released an updated employment standard that requires organizations to remove workplace barriers for employees with disabilities.
The revised CAN/ASC-1.1:2024 (REV-2025)-Employment standard, published Thursday, introduces new requirements for creating accessible and inclusive work environments. The update builds on the original standard released in December 2024.
The revised standard adds requirements for organizations to improve workplace accessibility and clarifies existing rules to better support workers with disabilities. It covers barriers at every stage of employment, from recruitment and hiring to professional development and job separation.
New requirements for workplace culture
The updated standard includes a new section on culture, engagement and education that requires organizations to create inclusive and respectful workplace environments. It also adds requirements for accessibility support systems to meet individual employee needs.
Organizations must now address barriers in organizational policies, work disability management, accommodations, recruitment processes, worker retention, professional development, pay equity, performance management and job separation.
The standard provides three new informative annexes with background information, context on disability experiences and practical guidance for integrating accessibility into existing policies.
Development process
The revision was developed through collaboration with people with disabilities, technical experts and accessibility specialists. A majority of the technical committee members who led development identify as persons with disabilities and as part of equity-deserving groups.
“The federal government is helping to even the playing field in workplaces across Canada. The revised Accessibility Standards Canada publication released today supports organizations right across the country in bringing needed change to create more inclusive and accessible workplaces for all workers. Together with industry, we are building a fairer workforce fit for the scale of the challenges of our times and worthy of the ambition of every worker,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families.
Dino Zuppa, Chief Executive Officer of Accessibility Standards Canada, said the standard reflects the organization’s vision for accessible workplaces.
“Our employment standard reflects our vision for accessible and equitable workplaces across Canada. It was developed by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities who know best the needs of the community. The revised edition provides organizations with a full set of requirements for creating a work environment where every employee can thrive and contribute to their full potential. As a wide-ranging and inclusive standard, it’s a model for what accessible employment should look like, both in Canada and around the world,” Zuppa said.
Availability and alignment
The standard is available free on the Accessibility Standards Canada website in English and French, in both HTML and Word formats. It includes a plain language summary in both official languages and sign languages.
The employment standard aligns with Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities. It supports the federal government’s goal of creating a barrier-free Canada by 2040.
Accessibility Standards Canada is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as a standards development organization. The CAN/ASC-1.1:2024 (REV-2025)-Employment standard is approved as a National Standard of Canada.
For more information, see https://accessible.canada.ca/creating-accessibility-standards/can-asc-112024-rev-2025-employment
