Category: HR Resources
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COVID-19 Tip #15: Discrimination under Human Rights Legislation
COVID-19 has resulted in many changes to employment standards and health and safety legislation (see our other COVID-19 posts), but it also has implications for human rights. The Human Rights Commissions of several provinces have issued policy statements or provided guidance indicating that COVID-19 may engage certain grounds of discrimination. Note that this post only covers those provinces that have provided explicit guidance regarding discrimination and COVID-19. This does not mean that the other provinces do not consider COVID-19 to fall within the prohibited grounds, only that they have not provided specific guidance on this point. More »
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Alberta to Revamp Employment Standards
Alberta Bill 32, Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, 2020, includes extensive amendments to the Employment Standards Code. Bill 32 is still making its way through the Alberta legislature. In the meantime, if you have employees in Alberta, here is a quick review of what you need to know.
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COVID-19 Tip #14: Temporary Lay-offs
Typically, under employment standards legislation, a temporary layoff longer than a specified period is considered a permanent layoff (i.e., requiring an employer to provide employees with written working notice of termination and/or to pay termination and severance pay). This post provides a quick review of the jurisdictions that have extended or created exemptions from the temporary layoff periods in response to COVID-19.
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COVID-19 Tip #13: Ontario Moves to Stage 2
Further to today’s announcement that (almost) all of Ontario is moving to Stage 2 (Windsor is the last region left at Stage 1), it is helpful to review Ontario’s guide on how to develop a COVID-19 workplace safety plan.
The guide, which includes a template plan, sets out the steps for Ontario employers preparing to re-open the workplace.
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COVID-19 Tip #12: Government Guidance for Re-opening Workplaces (Part II)
Further to an earlier post regarding Alberta and Quebec, here is the latest in a series of posts regarding government guidance setting out what businesses need to do to keep employees and customers safe. This post includes information on the regulatory guidance from British Columbia.
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COVID-19 Tip #11: Government Guidance for Re-opening Workplaces (Part I)
As provinces across the country begin to permit businesses to re-open, many governments are publishing workplace guidance – highlighting what businesses need to do to keep employees and customers safe. Below is information on guidance from Alberta & Quebec. More posts to follow.
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COVID-19 Tip #10: Ontario Businesses May Request Relief from Government Requirements
The Ontario government announced that businesses may request a temporary change to a regulation or government policy, process or fee where it would facilitate their ability to respond to COVID-19. More »
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COVID-19 Tip #9: Finding COVID-19 Government Support for your Business
There are many programs available to assist businesses during COVID-19. The federal and provincial governments have announced a variety of programs ranging from wage subsidies (see our post on the 10% wage subsidy and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy) to emergency benefits to tax filing and payment deferrals (among other things).
The federal government has an interactive tool to help businesses identify the COVID-19 related support available to them. The online tool asks a series of questions to direct you toward the programs and services that are available to your specific business. The tool provides information on the following types of support:
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COVID-19 Tip #8: Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy Update
The federal government published more detailed information regarding the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), and announced that applications for the CEWS will open on April 27, 2020.
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COVID-19 Tip #7: Ontario Emergency Order Extended to May
Ontario extended its Declaration of an Emergency until May 12, 2020.
The orders listed below have been extended until May 6, 2020: