Yes, Ontario employers can and should hire private security to enforce a worker’s restraining order on company property. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers have a strict legal duty to protect staff from known risks of domestic violence bleeding into the workplace.
Protecting Your Staff from Domestic Violence in Ontario
When an employee is going through a dangerous separation, the threat of an abusive ex-partner does not stop at the office doors. In Ontario, domestic violence is recognized as a severe workplace hazard. Whether your business is a corporate tower in Toronto, a manufacturing plant in Mississauga, or a retail store in Windsor, an abuser showing up at the workplace puts everyone in the building in grave danger. 🚨
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers have a mandatory duty to take every reasonable precaution to protect workers when they become aware of a domestic violence threat. If an employee provides HR with a family court restraining order or a criminal peace bond, ignoring it is a massive liability. Hiring licensed private security is one of the most effective ways to enforce the perimeter. Navigating these safety protocols carefully with an employment lawyer from our directory can help shield your business from tragedy and OHSA fines. ⚖
Step-by-Step Process for Employers Managing a Restraining Order
Handling a domestic violence threat requires absolute discretion and immediate action. Here is the standard protocol HR departments follow when an employee presents a restraining order. 📝
Step 1: Review the Court Order with the Employee
First, HR must securely review the official restraining order. Look specifically at the distance restrictions (e.g., “the respondent must remain 500 metres away from the applicant’s place of employment”). Obtain a recent, clear photograph of the abuser, the make and model of their vehicle, and their license plate number if known. 📷
Step 2: Hire Licensed Private Security
If the threat level is high, the employer should hire a private security firm. Ensure the security company is fully licensed under the Ontario Private Security and Investigative Services Act. The security guards must be stationed at key entry points, such as the front lobby, the parking garage entrance, or the specific floor where the employee works. 🔒
Step 3: Establish an Emergency Lockdown Protocol
Security guards are a deterrent, but they are not police officers. You must establish a clear protocol: If the abuser steps foot on the property, security will deny entry, immediately call 911 to report a breach of a court order, and initiate an office lockdown to ensure the targeted employee is moved to a safe room. 👮
Step 4: Inform Necessary Personnel on a Need-to-Know Basis
You must balance the employee’s privacy with workplace safety. You cannot broadcast the restraining order to the entire office. Instead, share the abuser’s photo only with building management, front desk receptionists, and the hired security team, instructing them to deny access instantly. 👤
How Much Does Workplace Security Cost in Ontario?
Protecting an employee is a necessary cost of doing business and fulfilling your OHSA obligations. Employers generally absorb these costs rather than passing them onto the victim. As of May 2026, here are the estimated security expenses. 💰
| Security Measure | Estimated Cost in CAD |
|---|---|
| Uniformed Private Security Guard | Typically costs the company $30 to $55 CAD per hour per guard. |
| Lawyer Consultation for OHSA Compliance | An employment lawyer will charge $350 to $600 CAD for a policy review. |
| Upgraded Access Control (Key fobs) | Installing a secure fob system for a main door can cost $1,500 to $3,000 CAD. |
How Quickly Can This Be Implemented?
When a domestic violence threat is active, time is critical. A reputable private security firm in Ontario can usually deploy a uniformed guard to your location within 24 to 48 hours of signing a contract. Updating internal HR safety plans and briefing the receptionist should happen the exact same day the employee provides the restraining order. ⏳
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can security guards physically arrest the abuser?
Security guards can perform a citizen’s arrest if they witness a criminal offence on the property (such as trespassing or assault). However, best practice is to verbally deny entry and immediately call the police to enforce the court order.
Is the employer legally required to pay for the security?
While the OHSA does not explicitly say ‘you must hire guards,’ it demands you take ‘every precaution reasonable.’ If the threat is severe and the employer refuses to spend money on security, they could be heavily fined if an incident occurs.
Can we fire the employee to remove the risk from the office?
Absolutely not. Firing an employee because they are a victim of domestic violence is a severe human rights violation in Ontario. It will expose your company to massive wrongful dismissal and discrimination lawsuits.
What if the restraining order is just a civil family court order?
It does not matter if it is a civil family court order or a criminal peace bond. Both are legally binding documents. Breaching a family court restraining order is still a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.
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