Bill 96 unpacked: the HR playbook every Québec employer needs

Published

15 Dec 2025

Bill 96 unpacked: the HR playbook every Québec employer needs

Last Updated Dec 16, 2025

The white and blue flag of Quebec, featuring four fleurs-de-lis, blowing in the wind against a bright sky.

Québec’s Bill 96 is here, and it’s changing the game for every business with staff (including remote workers)located in the province. These new language rules are more than just a minor update; they’re a fundamental shift in how you hire, manage and communicate with your team. For HR leaders, this isn’t a ‘maybe later’ task. It’s a ‘right now’ priority.

Staying on top of these changes is key to building a great workplace and protecting your business. But navigating the legal landscape can feel overwhelming. That’s why we built this guide: to cut through the noise and give you clear, actionable steps to help you manage compliance.

What’s in this Bill 96 guide?

This isn’t just another legal brief. It’s your practical playbook for mastering Bill 96. We’re showing you a better way to handle these new challenges. Inside you’ll discover:

Key HR Obligations: A breakdown of new rules for contracts, job ads and employee communications.
Francization Explained: What businesses with 25+ employees need to do to comply with the 2025 deadline.
Practical Best Practices: A step-by-step plan for auditing your processes, training your managers and getting ahead of risk.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid: Learn from common mistakes so you can navigate inspections and employee requests with confidence.
Future Timelines & Strategy: A look at what’s next for Bill 96 and how it will impact your employer brand in Québec.

Lead with confidence

Don’t let compliance complexity slow you down. It’s time to turn regulatory challenges into an opportunity to build a stronger, more connected team. Download our free guide for the expert insights and practical tools you need to lead your business forward.

Download Your Free Bill 96 Guide

Bill 96 is an act that significantly amends Québec’s Charter of the French Language. For employers, it introduces stricter rules to ensure French is the common language of the workplace, including new requirements for contracts, communications, hiring and more.

Bill 96 applies to any organization with employees in Québec, regardless of where the company is headquartered. The rules have expanded, and as of June 1, 2025, businesses with 25 to 49 employees will face new Francization requirements.

Yes, for the most part. Key documents like employment offers, contracts, policies and training materials must be provided in French. An English version can only be provided after the French one if the employee explicitly requests it.

You can, but only if you can prove that knowledge of English is a true necessity for the role. You must also publish a French version of the ad simultaneously through equivalent channels to ensure it has the same reach.

Francization is the process businesses must undertake to ensure French is the normal and everyday language of work. It involves analyzing your linguistic situation and implementing a program to generalize the use of French across all operations.

Penalties for non-compliance have increased significantly. They can include substantial fines issued by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF), which can be applied daily until the issue is resolved.

Start by conducting a full language audit of all your documents and systems. Prioritize translating high-risk documents, adopt French-first templates and train your managers on the new obligations. Documenting everything is key to managing compliance.