Bill 96 and the Quebec Workplace: What will change?

If your organization operates in Quebec, you are probably familiar with the provincial rules governing the use of French in the workplace, codified in the Charter of the French Language. With the passage of Bill 96, formally known as “An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec,” the rules have expanded. Some new requirements already came into play with the passage of Bill 96 on June 1, 2022. Others will take effect on June 1, 2025, three years later.  In this post, we’ll discuss some of the changes on the near horizon.

What is “francization?”

Currently, businesses with more than 50 employees in Quebec must register with the Office québécois de la langue française (Quebec Office of the French Language) and generalize the use of French across the organization. The process is referred to as “francization.”  Some of the tenets of francization include:

• Employment contracts and documentation, including job listings, offers, manuals, codes of conduct, and terms of employment, must be accessible in French.
• Work tools such as software and databases must be useable in French by default.
• The organization must be able to welcome, serve, and communicate with customers, clients, and the civil authorities in French.
• Knowledge of a language other than French cannot be a prerequisite for employment if such knowledge is not relevant to job performance.
• Public signage and communications must be available in French.

In addition, companies with more than 100 employees in Quebec must form a francization committee, comprised of equal numbers of workers and managers, to report on compliance with the organization. The committee will serve as a liaison with the Office québécois de la langue française to address and resolve any inquiries or complaints.

What will change in 2025?

After June 2025, francization requirements will expand to cover businesses with 25-49 employees in Quebec. These organizations will also need to register with the Office québécois de la langue française. In addition, businesses with 25-99 employees must form a francization committee to ensure that business documentation is available in French to all employees. Finally, the Office québécois de la langue française will be empowered to impose French language learning services on companies with as few as five employees.

How can Scriptis help?

If your organization is subject to the changes imposed by Bill 96, our in-house translation team can ensure that all your relevant content is translated into French.  Some requirements, like translation for job descriptions, employee manuals, and employment contracts, are obvious candidates for translation.  The following points must also be taken into account:

• Can all the productivity apps used by your organization be used with a French user interface?
• Is e-learning, training, and other required professional development available in French?
• Is all health and safety information published and posted in French?

Full information about Bill 96 can be found in the Charter of the French Language. Then, reach out to Scriptis. Our team can help you assess your translation needs and support compliance with the language laws of Quebec.