On October 15, 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated its website page EI information for employers – COVID-19 with respect to Block 16 – Reasons for issuing this ROE (record of employment). Block 16 is used to indicate the reason for the employee’s leave or separation from employment, or why the ROE is…
Topic: Return to Work
Ontario Announces Mandatory Vaccination Requirements for Long-Term Care Homes
On October 1, 2021, the Ontario government announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will become mandatory for all in-home staff, support workers, students, and volunteers in long-term care homes, unless a valid medical exemption is presented. These individuals will have until November 15, 2021 to show proof that they have received all required doses of a COVID-19…
Ontario to Lift Most Restrictions Related to COVID-19 When it Exits Step 3
On July 30, 2021, the Ontario government filed a regulation which reveals that when the province exits from Step 3 of its Roadmap to Reopen, most of the existing COVID-19-related restrictions will be lifted. One key exception will be a continuing requirement for indoor masking. The Roadmap to Reopen contemplates a safe exit from Step…
Ontario to Enter Step 1 of Reopening on June 11, 2021
The Ontario government has announced that effective June 11 at 12:01 a.m., all regions of the province will enter Step 1 of its Roadmap to Reopen as the COVID-19 cases slowly begin to drop and the vaccination rates increase.
Nadine Zacks Quoted in SHRM on how Rapid Testing Could Curtail COVID-19 Outbreaks in Canadian Workplaces
SHRM quoted Hicks Morley’s Nadine Zacks in a May 12, 2021 article titled “Rapid Testing Could Curtail COVID-19 Outbreaks in Canadian Workplaces”. During Canada’s third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, workplace outbreaks risk transmitting the COVID-19 virus and its variants. Experts say rapid testing in workplaces could be instrumental in helping Canada fight the third…
Further Amendments to Ontario’s Screening Tool for Workers
On March 9, 2020, the Ontario government again updated its “COVID-19 Screening Tool for Businesses and Organizations (Screening Workers)” (Tool). Among other things, the Tool has been clarified to state that workers must be “actively screened” (as opposed to “screened”). In addition, if the worker answers “yes” to the question “Is anyone you live with…
Nadine Zacks Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter on Screening Workers for COVID
Canadian HR Reporter quoted Hicks Morley’s Nadine Zacks in a October 1, 2020 article titled “Are you screening workers for COVID?” Employers in Ontario are now required to apply a daily COVID-19 screening test to employees and essential visitors before they enter the workplace. As noted in the article, employers should keep appropriate records so…
Employers Take Note: New Requirements for COVID-19 Screening for Employees and Essential Visitors Now in Effect **
The Ontario government has announced that Ontario employers are now required to apply a COVID-19 screening test to employees and essential visitors before they enter the workplace.
Proposed Extension of Current CEWS Calculation for Inactive Employees Through Claim Period 7
The federal government has announced that it proposes to extend the current treatment of employees on leave with pay under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program by four weeks, from August 30, 2020 to September 26, 2020 (CEWS claim period 7).
Details of Extensive Changes to Employment Insurance and Canada Emergency Response Benefit Announced
In the latest evolution of the federal government’s response to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, on August 19, 2020, amendments to the Employment Insurance Act (EI Act) were published and, on August 20, 2020, the government announced new measures to support affected Canadians who continue to be unable to work due to COVID-19.