On March 23, 2020 Premier Doug Ford announced that effective 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, all non-essential businesses will be ordered to close for 14 days, and possibly longer. This order is made further to the emergency declared on March 17, 2020 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Here is what employers need to consider now.
Tag: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ontario to Close Non-Essential Businesses Due to COVID-19
On March 23, 2020, the Ontario government announced that effective 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday March 24, non-essential businesses will be ordered closed for 14 days, and possibly longer. A full list of businesses which will be permitted to remain open will be released tomorrow. Access to groceries, medicine and essential products will remain in place….
Advantage CPD: COVID-19 Catch-up – What Employers Need to Know About the New Changes
A lot can change in a week. With a view to containing the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a flurry of announcements at the provincial and federal levels, including a Declared Emergency by the Ontario Government. From the mandatory closure of certain facilities, to the waiving of the waiting period for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits for quarantined employees, closure of borders to non-essential travel, extension of the EI work-sharing program, and prohibited gatherings of over 50 people, new measures are being announced at a rapid pace.
COVID-19 and Staffing – Province Issues Emergency Order for Health Service Providers
With a single Order, Ontario Health Service Providers have been given broad authority to take all reasonable steps necessary to staff as needed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Details of this Order, which came into effect the evening of Saturday, March 21, 2020, are set out below.
Ontario Amends the ESA to Extend Employee Protections in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 19, 2020, the Ontario Legislature met in an emergency session to pass legislation to extend protections for employees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill 186, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020 amends the leaves of absence provisions of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to provide more leave entitlements to employees impacted by the pandemic and to prohibit employers from requesting medical notes in relation to the new leave.
Federal Government Announces Further Support for Workers Affected by COVID-19
On March 18, 2020, the federal government announced an $82 billion aid package, with $27 billion in direct income support for individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19, and $55 billion to assist with liquidity in the form of tax deferrals.
Ontario Declares Emergency in Light of COVID-19
On March 17, 2020, the Ontario government declared an emergency in Ontario as a result of COVID-19. It ordered the immediate closure of a number of venues, as well as enhanced funding for the province’s response to COVID-19.
Hicks Morley Office Changes as of March 16, 2020
Hicks Morley continues to monitor changes to the COVID-19 situation. Our priority has been and continues to be our firm members, our clients and the community. We are making efforts to do our part to reduce the risk and effective immediately, we will continue to have lawyers and staff onsite but most of our lawyers…
Update on COVID-19 for Employers: Ontario to Amend the ESA to Protect Jobs
Today, the Ontario government announced that it will be introducing legislation to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) in light of COVID-19. In addition, the federal government announced, among other things, that the Canadian border will be closed to foreign nationals, with some exceptions.
Update: COVID-19 – Questions and Answers for Employers
As we learn more about the Novel Coronavirus (2019-vCoV or Coronavirus), employers will no doubt be contemplating the potential implications of this virus on their workplaces. We have set out below some of the emerging questions that employers may have right now and our answers and guidelines for how to address these issues.