Search Results for: COVID
Transitioning from COVID-19 Safety Plans to Communicable Disease Prevention in the Workplace
On July 1st, 2021, B.C. progressed to Step 3 of the Province’s Restart Plan. Employers are no longer required to maintain a COVID-19 Safety Plan pursuant to WorkSafeBC requirements. Instead, employers can transition to developing a Communicable Disease Plan (CDP) as directed in a statement by the Provincial Health Officer. A communicable disease is an […] Read more
COVID and Discipline in the Workplace
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are finally beginning to receive guidance from the courts and other decision makers with respect to disciplinary responses by employers to employees’ failure to take reasonable COVID safety precautions in the workplace. Two recent arbitral awards out of Ontario, Garda Security Screening Inc. v […] Read more
Refusing Unsafe Work in the COVID Era (British Columbia)
Employees have a right to refuse unsafe work, but can an employee refuse to work based on a risk of possible exposure to COVID-19? This article provides a general overview of the grounds for and process of refusing unsafe work in British Columbia, with specific considerations for work refusals made during the COVID-19 pandemic. When […] Read more
COVID-19 Emergency Layoff Variance
The BC Employment Standards Act restricts the circumstances when an employer can lawfully proceed with temporary layoffs, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, only permitted eligible employers to temporarily lay-off employees for up to 13 weeks in a period of 20 consecutive weeks. In May the duration of temporary layoffs for reasons related to COVID-19 […] Read more
July 2020 COVID-19 Update
As we move further into Phase 3 of British Columbia’s Restart Plan there have been some important changes in the COVID-19 labour and employment law landscape. Employment Standards Act The government of British Columbia has extended the temporary lay-off provisions under the Employment Standards Act to 24 weeks for employees laid-off due to COVID-19. Prior […] Read more
COVID-19 Safety Plans
Phase 2 of the Government of British Columbia’s plan to re-open the province’s economy and businesses commenced May 19 and ended June 23. Phase 3 commenced June 24, 2020. Businesses that decide to open or remain open must adhere to all public health orders issued by the Ministry of Health and follow guidelines from both […] Read more
Extended Temporary Layoffs due to COVID-19
To provide more flexibility to employers and employees wishing to extend a temporary layoff due to COVID-19, the government of British Columbia has amended the definition of temporary layoff in the Employment Standards Act to increase the maximum length of a temporary layoff to 16 weeks in a consecutive 20 weeks, rather than the usual […] Read more
COVID-19: Details on Canada’s Wage Subsidies
Updated April 24, 2020 Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy As part of Canada’s economic support for businesses and workers facing impacts from COVID-19, the federal government announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). The subsidy aims to help businesses avoid lay-offs and dismissals due to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing a significant wage subsidy to eligible […] Read more
