*This program ended on October 23, 2021, and was replaced by a more targeted program called the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit. The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit expired on May 7, 2022. This summer looks to be shaping up. COVID-19 case numbers are going down. Vaccination rates are going up. As your province slowly reopens, you...
The COVID-19 crisis has caused much economic devastation. While it has adversely impacted businesses across industries, certain sectors, such as hospitality and tourism, have been the worst hit. To help small and medium businesses that have seen their revenues go down by 50%, or more, due to the pandemic, the federal government is offering a new...
While vaccines hold out the hope that eventually we’ll return to a pre-pandemic normal, the vaccine shot is not mandatory under the law. Like the flu shot, it will be a personal choice that not everybody would opt for. This means your staff has the right to refuse the vaccine and you cannot (and should not)...
Your employees are your greatest resource. Investing in your staff only benefits your business in the long run. While training programs are a good way to upskill your workers, mentoring is another useful strategy. Mentoring your team will help you draw upon and transfer the existing reserves of expertise and knowledge within your organization. What is...
Since the COVID-19 vaccine shot is not mandatory, employers may ask their staff to voluntarily disclose if they’ve received the vaccination. For employers, keeping track of vaccinated staff is crucial. It’ll help decide what health and safety measures to implement in the workplace on reopening. If daily public dealings are part of your work, it’ll also...
Depending on the needs of your business, you may wish to relocate your staff within the city, or the province or even outside it. To do so, it is crucial that your employment contract gives you, the employer, the right to change major terms of employment like the job location. Asking an employee to relocate...
Soft skills are critical for effective people management. Initiative, adaptability, and persuasiveness are some examples of soft skills. But the most essential soft skill you need to be a good leader is emotional intelligence (EI). What is emotional intelligence? Emotional intelligence or emotional quotient can be described as the ability to identify and manage one’s...
As the employer, you play a major role in shaping your workplace culture. A healthy working environment improves team productivity, employee engagement and job satisfaction. To build a thriving work culture, it is important that you keep negativity out of your workplace. If you have employees who are in the habit of complaining without cause or...
Given the extremes of weather experienced across Canada, business closures due to a blizzard or a tornado are a part of life. Besides bad weather, an emergency like a city-wide outage or a wildfire may also abruptly shut down workplaces. It is your responsibility as the employer to notify staff of business closures due to...
Video calls are an indispensable part of our remote work routines. Chances are that you may be spending a significant portion of your work hours in virtual meetings. Even outside of work, it is video conferencing that makes it convenient for us to stay connected to our family and friends during the pandemic. However, being...
