I have been getting a lot of calls from clients about some of the other well established government programs.  I’ve been sharing info individually in order to avoid overwhelming people with e-mails up until now.  This article is from a national law firm and provides great questions and answers to how the SUB and Workshare plans work and may be of assistance or an option for your firm.

As they contend with the global crisis caused by COVID-19, employers are increasingly welcoming such support mechanisms as the Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plan (SUBP) and the Work-Sharing special measures. But making sense of it all isn’t easy. To help guide you, here are four (4) frequently asked questions regarding these support mechanisms and our team’s answers.

SUB PLANS

1) Can employers pay unemployment benefits to their employees in addition to those paid under employment insurance? If so, how? 

2) How are supplemental unemployment benefits (SUB) paid under a plan?

3) What is the maximum amount of unemployment insurance that can be paid to an employee under the SUBP without that employee’s employment insurance benefits being reduced? 

4) Can an employee be forced to reimburse employment insurance benefits received? 

WORKSHARE

1) What are the new Work-Sharing special measures? 

2) Which employers and employees may benefit from the temporary Work-Sharing special measures and how? 

3) What benefits are employees entitled to under a Work-Sharing program? 

4) How can you apply for the Work-Sharing program and within what timeframe? 

READ FULL DETAILS

Clients and Friends,

I’m trying to think of ways that I can add a bit more value to our relationship in these challenging times.  Most of you are in the Greater Toronto Area, so have I got an idea for you.

Peter and Pauls is the catering company that supplies the CGIB events that I run (educating advisors in the benefits space).  They also run and supply GTA hotels banquet halls and restaurants around the GTA. Their business has obviously suffered as there are no events being held until the end of June and the restaurants are closed except for take out.  That said, they DO have lots of chefs and kitchens and are willing to do the cooking (and shopping) for you.  So why not let them do the hard work?

You can order large frozen trays of meals such as; veggie lasagna, veal parmesan, chicken scallopini, meatballs and much more.  They are also selling from their stock of wine, groceries, toilet paper and sanitizer.  You can pick up in Vaughan and get delivery if you’re in their “delivery zone”.

Don’t let the larger size throw you off (because you can’t have people in).  Share with neighbours, or save for the next meal (⅓ pan feeds  4-6 people & ½ pan feeds 8-10 people)

Our order went in today and you can check out all the details here…
https://www.bypeterandpauls.com/vaughan-food-delivery
https://www.peterandpaulseventcatering.com/file/Covid19_SpecialMenu.pdf

I recently came across this site that may be of use to you and your employees.  It appears to be updated daily with both the provincial and federal government programs being offered during the COVID-19 Crisis.  We have linked to the original document so that you can follow the updates.

This website has been adapted from information compiled and published freely by Dr. Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor of Political Management at Carleton University. You can read the original document here: https://t.co/m0dXFYIZwk?amp=1. Dr. Robson is not affiliated with this website or its publishers. Any errors or omissions in adapting Dr. Robson’s are the sole responsibility of [Mainstay Insurance Brokerage Inc.

READ HERE

I am a member of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) and they just sent this info out. I thought worth sharing as it highlights all the programs to all the parties.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we know you need cash flow to keep your doors open and employees paid. We’re pushing the federal government to provide the relief measures you need to keep your business alive.

So far, here’s what the federal government is doing to support small business. We will continue updating this page with the latest information as it becomes available—and continue pushing governments for greater relief.

For the CFIB page with al the programs on one expandable page CLICK HERE

For all the details, read the federal government’s full program.

I have seen info on the subsidy coming in from a number of sources, but here is one that makes succinct points from a local employment law/HR firm.  We will provide more info as details become available.

The government provided more detail on April 1, 2020 about the federal wage subsidy being offered to employers in an effort to limit layoffs and keep Canadians employed during this COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 30, 2020, the Government of Canada announced that the federal wage subsidy (which was initially announced as a 10% wage subsidy for small businesses) was being increased to 75%, and that it will be available to all employers, regardless of size, that had suffered a 30% reduction in revenues due to COVID-19. Moreover, all non-publicly funded employers will be eligible to apply for the subsidy, including charities and non-profits.

In particular, the government stated that the subsidy would cover 75% of the first $58,700 of wages for each worker employed by an eligible business, which is up to $847 per week, backdated to March 15.

On April 1, 2020, the government provided further details on the wage subsidy, including that:

• To be eligible, employers must have experienced a 30% reduction in gross revenue compared to 2019, calculated by comparing revenues from each month with the same month in 2019 (e.g., a 30% decline in March 2020 as compared to March 2019);
• Employers will be required to reapply for the wage subsidy each month;
• Employers will be required to attest that they are “doing everything that they can” to provide their employees with the remaining 25% of their wages, to receive the subsidy;
• Employers will be able to apply online through a portal on the Canada Revenue Agency’s website that will be available “soon”;
• Funds under the subsidy will be available in mid-May; and
• There will be “severe consequences” for anyone who abuses this subsidy or uses the money for fraudulent purposes.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Here are the government press releases:

Government Announces Details of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to Help Businesses Keep Canadians in their jobs

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/04/government-announces-details-of-the-canada-emergency-wage-subsidy-to-help-businesses-keep-canadians-in-their-jobs.html

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/wage-subsidy.html

For the past year or so I have been suggesting that employers hold off on buying any of the telemedicine solutions we have seen in the marketplace.  Part of this is because we have seen several provinces (including Ontario) trialing programs for publicly funded options, so why pay privately?

During these unique and challenging times, this may be a way to reach out and get assistance without leaving home.

I’ve included a link to TIA health below that I’ve shared in the past.  This is now funded by the province in Ontario, Alberta and BC.

In Ontario, the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) allows you to connect directly to your own doctor (if they are on the system and many are signing up each day).  More info is below…

Covered in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia with a valid Health Card. 

COVID-19 Screening now available!

Tia Health allows you to connect to a real Canadian doctor online via a, phone or secure messaging. Get prescriptions, medical advice, referrals, requisitions, mental health, and more.

https://tiahealth.com/

OTN services are free for patients. 

Designed to increase access to family doctors, specialists, and other health care providers, eVisits are often a time-saving and convenient option. eVisits connect you to your health care provider either from home on your own device, or from a health care centre near you. Every day, more and more providers offer video as an alternative to having an in-office appointment. There is no cost to patients. eVisits provide the same level of care as you’d expect with an in-office visit, as well as the opportunity for family members or other caregivers to participate in your care if appropriate. And the interaction is safe and private, with sensitive information transmitted through a secure network, and all the information from your eVisit is recorded in your medical record. When things like time off from work, childcare, and parking, make accessing care challenging, eVisits can help.

https://otn.ca/

We don’t have all the details yet, but should have more info over the next day or two in this new employer subsidy program. I have not found a better source for info yet, but this short article below will help understand what is being proposed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced the initial details of the 75% employer wage subsidy announced last week. Dubbed the “Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy” (the CEWS), he described this as a program that will help people keep jobs, while the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, announced last week, will help people who have lost their jobs.

Notably, the number of employees that an employer has will not be a consideration. It will apply to nonprofits and charities and companies both large and small, the key qualifying factor being a 30% reduction in the revenues of the business.

The CEWS covers the first $58,700 of annual income, paying a maximum subsidy of $847 a week, and the effective date has been set retroactively to March 15, although the date that money is to start to flow has not yet been stated.

READ MORE

For the Mainstay clients that have signed up for the ConnectsUs HR resources…

• Dynamic information & updates (external updates that can change daily and sometimes even hourly)
• Up-to-date resources and templates that are revised as information changes

I’ve had a few clients question how best to code Records of Employment (ROE’s). The point I have heard several times is NEVER USE COMMENTS (when you can avoid it) as they are manually processed and slow down the whole process.

Here is a great post on LinkedIn from Rich Appiah of Appiah Law

Some good news for small businesses in Ontario.  Remember, every bit counts.

Please see the info below and check out the Ministry of Finance site below for full details.

Mainstay Insurance Brokerage Inc. is partnered with ConnectsUs HR ™ so you can take advantage of the proven HR package made for Canadian small business and compliant for Ontario, Alberta and BC.

There’s no cost to you – we’ve picked up the tab! You won’t even have to provide a credit card.

ConnectsUs HR ™ is adding COVID-19 resources (see below) over the next two days.  If you’re interested in accessing these and are already subscribed, please check out their site.  if you are not already subscribed, please call or e-mail us for the code to get the service for free.  GET INFO HERE