The federal New Democrats say all Canadians require access to two weeks of sick leave benefits as provinces start moving to reopen their economies while fighting the coronavirus and the federal government should pay for it. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Wednesday that workers without sick leave who are put back on the job during the pandemic […]
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, virtual health care is taking centre stage. But Ontario Power Generation was ahead of the curve, introducing a pilot project in 2019 to help employees with high mental-health incidences and absenteeism rates minimize their sick leave usage. The pilot, implemented on July 1, 2019, provides about 500 hydro […]
As provincial governments start to lay out their plans for slowly reopening the economy, employers have a unique return-to-work scenario to handle. Appropriate sick leave and accommodation policies will be key pieces of the new normal, said Alex Boucher, principal and total health management leader at Mercer Canada, during a webinar on Friday. A second and possibly further […]
More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of Canadian employers said they don’t intend to make changes to their benefits plan during the coronavirus crisis, according to a new survey by the Conference Board of Canada. The survey, which polled 333 organizations, found just 32 per cent said they’ve made changes to their benefits offering or are in […]
North American employers are attempting to strike a balance between supporting employees and reducing costs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by Aon. The survey, which polled more than 1,400 North American companies, found 70 per cent said they’re giving their working parents additional flexibility around their schedules, while 57 per cent said they’re […]
Whole Foods Market Inc. employees called in sick on Tuesday to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home to self-quarantine during the coronavirus. The U.S.-based employees are also asking for free coronavirus testing for all workers, as well as hazard pay of double the current hourly wage for employees who show up to […]
It’s the only story around these days. COVID-19 — the coronavirus — has broken out all over the world, leading to strain on health-care resources, uncertainty in capital markets and strict social distancing and lockdown measures from governments. The pandemic is naturally causing fear, anxiety and uncertainty, both among employees and among managers. But here’s […]
Ontario employers suddenly concerned about cash flow in the wake of the coronavirus will see some relief from measures announced by the provincial government in a special fiscal and economic update on Wednesday. The government is enacting a temporary change to the employer health tax exemption, cutting it by $355 million. With the change, 57,000 […]
The federal government will provide a $2,000-per-month taxable benefit for up to four months for Canadians who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit, an amalgamation of two previously announced benefits, will be available to workers who’ve lost their jobs, are sick or quarantined and are taking care of someone […]
The British Columbia government says it will be deferring employer health tax payments until September 30. The measure, introduced on Monday, is for employers with a payroll over $500,000 since businesses with a payroll under this threshold are already exempt from the tax. The provincial government is also providing a tax-free $1,000 payment to people […]