Are CERB Payments Deductible From Wrongful Dismissal Damages? Maybe.
In a recent "win" for employers, and a decision that is the "first of its kind", a court in British Columbia deducted Canada Emergency Response Benefit ("CERB") payments from wrongful […]
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Don’t Spend Your Vacation In A Courtroom: Potential Vacation Time And Vacation Pay Issues That Every Employer Should Know About
In Canada, every legal jurisdiction has laws governing an employer's vacation obligations. These obligations are separated into vacation time and vacation pay. Although the rules around vacation time and vacation […]
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Companies Investing more into Employee Benefits for Mental Health in 2021
Whether you have been isolated in a remote workspace or exhausted on the front-line, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought significant stress into the Canadian workforce. A shocking 50% of Canadians […]
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Paid COVID-19 Vaccination During Work Hours Leave Policy
Although it’s not currently required (except in Saskatchewan; BC has also provided for vaccination leave but it’s unpaid), organizations might want to offer their employees paid time off so they […]
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Employee Benefits and COVID-19
Employee benefits are a key component of employees’ compensation. COVID-19 and its impact on employees’ physical and mental wellbeing has highlighted the importance of employee benefits to employees and employers […]
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Supreme Court Awards Wrongfully Fired Employee Post-Termination Bonus
It’s getting harder and harder to enforce termination notice limits. An important new Canadian Supreme Court case confirms that employees who get wrongfully dismissed may qualify for not only termination notice […]
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Around the Provinces: Temporary Layoff Rules Across Canada
Temporary business slowdowns and short-term financial challenges may force you to let go of employees you really want to keep. Layoffs are also expensive because you have to shell out […]
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Employment Benefits Quiz
QUESTION What is the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)? ANSWER The CERB is an income support program for workers who have stopped working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will provide […]
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13 Things You Need to Know about the Newly Revised Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
The federal government recently revised the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). Here are the 13 things HR directors need to know to help their companies take advantage of […]
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Accident Benefits COVID-19 Edition: IRB vs CERB
Even the world of statutory accident benefits has to deal with novel issues in the time of COVID-19. Imagine the following scenario: An individual is involved in an automobile accident. They […]
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COVID-19: Navigating the Federal Assistance for Employers & Employee
Since applications opened at 6 a.m. today, over 10,000 businesses have applied for the federal government's new wage subsidy (CEWS). Companies will be able to receive up to 75% of employee […]
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Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Created in response to COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS or subsidy) provides savings to employers through a subsidy equal to 75% of employee wages on the first $58,700 […]
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Spousal Waiver of Survivor Pension Benefits Checklist
PROBLEM: Determining who’s entitled to pension plan survivor benefits of a dead plan member (or former member) is complicated. Regardless of who plan members designate as their beneficiary, you must figure […]
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Compliance Briefing: The 11 Things You Need to Know about the EI Work Sharing Program
One of the best ways for struggling companies to avoid layoffs is to participate in the EI Work Sharing program, particularly if you don’t have the necessary 30% revenue reductions […]
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An Option to Assist Employers Increase Employee Earnings While They are Temporarily Unemployed
Employers forced to temporarily lay off employees may wish to provide financial assistance to employees by topping up earnings over Employment Insurance ("EI") payments. Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Programs ("SUB plans") can […]
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Managing Privacy and Cyber Risks During a Pandemic
In a recent announcement, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Canadians' privacy during the COVID-19 outbreak, stating that, "[d]uring a public health […]
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COVID-19 Update: Summary of Federal Measures for Canadians
Canadian employers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably, it introduced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, which will cover up to 75 percent of an employer’s remuneration costs. Over the […]
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Ontario Introduces New “Infectious Disease” Leave Of Absence
On March 19, 2020, the Ontario Government introduced Bill 186 (An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000) (the “Infectious Disease Leave Amendment”) to introduce a new job protected unpaid […]
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How to Work When Nothing Is Working: Canadian Employment Law And COVID-19
As with the rest of the world, Canadian employers are confronting unprecedented challenges in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Employers are now tasked with navigating a mix of […]
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COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Measures For Individuals
The federal government recently announced a new set of economic measures to help stabilize the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outlined below are new measures implemented by the federal government, […]
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Alberta, Saskatchewan And Nova Scotia Announce Relief Measures For Pension Plan Administrators Amidst The COVID-19 Pandemic
In response to the recent market declines and interruptions to businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial pension regulators in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia have announced additional relief measures […]
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The 12 Things You Need to Know about the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit
Help your employees get the CERB money they need to survive COVID-19 layoff. The EI safety net wasn’t built for the tidal wave of job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
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Changing Workplaces, Changing Classifications: Increasing Relevance Of The Dependent Contractor
The classification of workers has become an increasingly relevant consideration for both hirers and workers in today's rapidly changing economy. Traditionally, workers have fallen into one of two distinct categories […]
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Benefits Related to Part-Time Employment Policy
Purpose: To ensure that Part-time Non-union employees are administrated fairly and equitably and in a manner that is consistent with the administration of Full-time Non-union employees is the purpose of […]
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Benefits Principles Policy
Purpose: To establish the principles to be considered when determining the appropriateness of introducing or modifying benefits plan or programs for employees is the purpose of this Statement of Policy […]
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Quiz: Employees at Heightened COVID-19 Risk Who Aren’t Allowed to Work from Home
SITUATION For eligible bachelor Sal Monella, staying home was a tough pill to swallow at first, especially on weekends. But as he learned more about COVID-19, Sal grew scared, especially because […]
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Compliance Cheat Sheet: Temporary Layoffs
Workforce reductions aren’t just heartbreaking but expensive. The silver lining is that structuring layoffs as temporary can be much easier on both your emotions and your budget. Temporary […]
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COVID-19 Government Legislation And Other Relief Benefits
by by A. Irvin Schein, Minden Gross LLP Given the current circumstances, I thought it would be useful to set out a list of measures put into place by the […]
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Alberta Implements 14 Day Unpaid Covid-19 Leave
by Megan Kheong, Jean Torrens and Walter Pavlic, Q.C., MLT Aikins LLP The Province of Alberta introduced a 14 consecutive day, unpaid, job protected leave for employees under quarantine ("COVID-19 […]
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COVID-19 War Stories: Using SUB Benefits to Support Employees on Temporary Layoff
In these stressful times, few things are more nightmarish than the need to cut jobs and staff. Yesterday, I heard from one of the real-life HR directors going through this […]
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