The Accessibility for Manitobans Act: How does this law impact your business?

As of November 1, 2018 all private businesses must:

1. Create a company Customer Service Standard. Your plan should address barriers that prevent all customers from receiving service, to:

• Meet the communication needs of customers
• Allow assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers
• Welcome service animals and support persons
• Ensure accessibility is maintained as intended, such as keeping wheelchair ramp clear
• Let customers know when accessible services are not available, such as temporary shutdown of an elevator
• Invite customer feedback

2. Train your employees about your company’s Customer Service Standard. Discuss how they are to serve customers of all abilities, including reasonable accommodations under The Human Rights Code.
 

As of November 1, 2018 all private businesses must:

1. Create a company Customer Service Standard. Your plan should address barriers that prevent all customers from receiving service, to:

• Meet the communication needs of customers
• Allow assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers
• Welcome service animals and support persons
• Ensure accessibility is maintained as intended, such as keeping wheelchair ramp clear
• Let customers know when accessible services are not available, such as temporary shutdown of an elevator
• Invite customer feedback

2. Train your employees about your company’s Customer Service Standard. Discuss how they are to serve customers of all abilities, including reasonable accommodations under The Human Rights Code.

3. Create a public notice to be displayed prominently in the business and on your website. The notice outlines that upon request, people can receive information about your company’s:

• measures, policies and practices
• training policy, including a summary of the content of the training and when the training is to be provided.

Note: In May, 2019 the Customer Service Standard Regulation was amended. The requirements for documentation originally applied to businesses with 20 or more employees. It is now required when there are more than 50 employees.

We've assembled resources to make the task easier.

• Sample company policy 
• Frequently-asked questions
• Employer’s handbook
• Tips for employees
• Guide: Types of Accessibility Barriers and Solutions
• Workshops
• Words with Dignity

Contact CFIB’s Business Resources team at 1-888-234-2232 or [email protected] for more information.

By May 1, 2022, your company must have:

1. Workplace Emergency Response Information: Create emergency response information to help employees with disabilities stay safe during emergencies.

2. Workplace Emergency Assistance: Ask employees who require assistance during an emergency for permission to share information with individuals who agree to help.

By May 1, 2022, your company must have:

1. Workplace Emergency Response Information: Create emergency response information to help employees with disabilities stay safe during emergencies.

2. Workplace Emergency Assistance: Ask employees who require assistance during an emergency for permission to share information with individuals who agree to help.

Your company must also:

• Document in writing all accessible employment policies and practices, including the content and timeframe for training.
• Make these documents publically available and in accessible formats, by request.

We've assembled resources to make the task easier.

• Sample Accessible Employment Policy
• Toolkit: Workplace Emergency Response Information - Keeping employees with disabilities safe
• Introduction to the Accessible Employment Standard (insight on reasonable accommodation during all stages of employment)
• Checklist
• Employer's Handbook on the Accessiblity Standard for Employment
• Poster: Discussing accessibility in the workplace

Contact CFIB’s Business Resources team at 1-888-234-2232 or [email protected] for more information.