The Ontario Ministry of Labour has provided a ton of resources to help employers returning staff to the workforce. Take a look, some of the posters and checklists may save you the time of creating your own.
Resources for working safely during the COVID-19 outbreak, aimed at employers and workers, are available online. These include guidelines for numerous jobs and sectors, as well as downloadable workplace posters and graphic tip sheets.
My association (CGIB) is sponsoring this event intended for Ontario employers. If you are interested in attending, please review the info below and sign up ASAP. We had over 560 for part 1 and expect more for this one.
The New Reality: Stabilizing and Restoring your Workplace from COVID-19—Part 2
During COVID-19, new government programs and legislative changes are being tabled at a dizzying pace. Coupled with dire economic circumstances and widespread uncertainty that are challenging employers at every turn, organizations are working overtime to adapt their products and transform services, all while developing return-to-work strategies designed to recalibrate the workplace, reintegrate employees and restore growth and productivity.
Join the Williams HR Law and Williams HR Consulting teams on June 4th at 9:30am EST for the second webinar in a special two-day virtual edition of the annual Williams HR Proactive Workplace Webinar. Part 2 will cover:
The webinar will also include a live Q&A session where attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions to the Williams HR Law and Consulting teams. Click here to register.
For those of you that had staff lay-offs without benefits, and were watching the 13 week mark fast approaching, where the Ontario ESA would normally require severance to be paid…you can relax a bit.
The Ontario government has made some changes to try and protect employers so there is a better likelihood of having a job to come back to. An article is below from Laura Williams and a government link with details.
New Regulation will protect employees from permanent layoffs and businesses from potential closures
On May 29, 2020, the Ontario government published a new Regulation, O. Reg. 228/20: Infectious Disease Emergency Leave, under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”).
The Regulation will have a dramatic impact on Ontario employers impacted by COVID-19. It is important to note, however, that the changes outlined below do not apply to unionized employees.
I’m slowing down blog posts to avoid overwhelming, and as things start to return to the new normal, I’ll try and get these back to once a week.
I thought it worthwhile to let you know that many of the medical service offices that have been closed are now gearing up to re-open. Some of these may require huge changes to practices (dentists), others less so (massage therapy), and each will rely on their regulatory body requirements to keep you safe during the transition.
Many insurers have been providing rebates during the closures, but we expect these to be reduced, or end in the near future, as services re-open and claims begin to increase. Stay tuned for more.
Dentists, optometrists and massage therapists are part of a list of health-care providers that the Ontario government says can gradually reopen following a months-long shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chiropractors, physiotherapists, psychologists, dieticians, denturists, and midwives are also included on the list released Wednesday as part of a new order from the province’s chief medical officer of health.
Just a reminder of this webinar of interest. I am helping to support the event and sharing with our clients as well as CGIB members who will be making it available to their clients across the country. Laura is both an interesting and dynamic speaker that leaves you with lots of take-aways you can put to use in your firm.
Details and booking info is below. We hope you’ll join us.
To sign up: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/williams-hr-proactive-workplace-webinars-tickets-103923273308
This post applies to those using the Ontario Drug Benefit program (ODB – generally for seniors) and those with high cost drugs utilizing the Trillium Drug Benefit (TDB).
The provincial government has provided resources to help reduce costs and aid in the application process by allowing fax and e-mailing of application forms.
Please feel free to pass this along to employees, friends or family that may need assistance.
Ontario Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable During COVID-19
https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-coverage-prescription-drugs
Ontario Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable During COVID-19
Province provides relief for Ontarians using the Ontario Drug Benefit Program
As you begin to prepare to recall staff (or think about it), and what a return to the workplace looks like. I thought I’d share a few links you may find useful.
Many Canadian employers implemented temporary layoffs due to the devastating financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis. These employers are entitled to recall their employees back to work at any point in time prior to the expiry of the applicable statutory layoff period. With community transmission of COVID-19 beginning to slow down, Canada’s federal and provincial governments are beginning to consider easing restrictions and gradually reopening certain businesses. In addition, it will not be long before the applicable layoff periods expire for some employers.
EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you lay-off employees we need to make the insurer aware of when, how long and what benefits are to be extended during the absence. Many insurers are offering an option to extend LTD coverage (if in place) during the lay-off period up to a maximum of 6 months (Please note that lay-offs with LTD benefits are limited to 6 months and can not be extended to the 35 weeks that the Ontario ESA references.). You are also required to alert the insurer when the laid off employee has quit, been terminated, or has returned to work (recalled)
If you have questions, are laying off, or recalling staff please consult the document below if you are located in Ontario. Any other questions, problems or you need help notifying your insurer, please give us a call (905-886-9203).
An employee is on temporary layoff when an employer cuts back or stops the employee’s work without ending their employment (e.g., laying someone off at times when there is not enough work to do). The mere fact that the employer does not specify a recall date when laying the employee off does not necessarily mean that the lay-off is not temporary. Note, however, that a lay-off, even if intended to be temporary, may result in constructive dismissal if it is not allowed by the employment contract.
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Under the ESA, a “temporary layoff” can last:
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If an employee is laid off for a period longer than a temporary layoff as set out above, the employer is considered to have terminated the employee’s employment. Generally, the employee will then be entitled to termination pay.
After several discussions, I think the recovery from the pandemic may be a bit more difficult to get out from, than it was to get in to, for many businesses. By that I mean that getting staff back to work is going to involve a number of steps that many have not thought about. Everything will mean more change, from maintaining physical distancing, to closing common areas people congregate, disinfecting and maintenance of personal space at work and so on, but also dealing with child care, anxiety with having people around (especially the older staff and those with compromised health) etc.
Every business will respond in their own way, but I thought that the following might provide a few tips as you prepare your own recovery plan.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety has created free tip sheets as guidance while operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each document offers health and safety tips and good practices, for both employers and workers, specific to each industry or sector. Organizations and businesses can adopt this guidance to protect their workers and prevent the spread of infections. The tip sheets cover a range of occupations and industries from construction and trucking to healthcare and daycares.
As we look ahead on the Road to Recovery, I thought this webinar may be of interest.
Laura Williams is both an interesting and dynamic speaker that leaves you with lots of take-aways you can put to use in your firm. An employment lawyer that lives in the HR space, her practice is local and is set up for firms just like yours.
Details are below.
To sign up: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/williams-hr-proactive-workplace-webinars-tickets-103923273308
