Work sharing and financial aid to employees to make ends meet

During these uncertain, volatile and constantly evolving circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the first financial aid program that came on stream at the beginning of the crisis was the Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy, which was followed by the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

• See more information about Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan : click here >>

which can provide eligible companies with a wage subsidy up to 75%. If you have not yet taken advantage of this assistance, we invite you to find out whether you are eligible, as they could be a great help. Although we have heard much about both of these very interesting programs, another one has received less publicity but could prove particularly useful during the resumption of operations that should begin in the short term.

Work sharing, the measures of which have been relaxed during the pandemic, could help you when you gradually recall your employees back to work. If, when business resumes, your customers are slow to get back to consuming the way they used to or if there is still a high level of uncertainty about the spread of the virus, requiring distancing measures, you may have to make adjustments to your employees’ work schedules. If so, work sharing could be of help to you, but how does it work?

During the course of the current crisis, your operations have to have declined recently as a direct or indirect result of the effect of COVID-19 (at least 10%).

In principle, this involves sharing the available working hours equally among members of the same unit, which must consist of at least two persons. As a result, for each member of a work unit, a week is divided into two – hours worked (minimum of 40%) and hours unemployed (maximum 60%). The employer pays out the hours worked, and Employment Insurance shall apply to the hours not worked. Of course, the employees must agree to share the available hours and be eligible for Employment Insurance.

If your entire team takes part in this, it could enable you to keep your employees on staff and retain the expertise and knowledge they have for the eventual complete resumption of operations. This program, which runs for 26 weeks and can be extended to 76 weeks, is an opportunity worth evaluating. It could be an element in your action plan when your business resumes.

• More details on this program are available : click here >>

We urge you to visit this site and remind you that, if necessary, you can contact one of our two advisers, Julie Bénard at (819) 449-1551 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Nathalie Patry at (819) 449-1551 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. They will be pleased to advise you and help you through the process.

The situation is changing from day to day. Watch for regular information from the Gatineau Valley SADC!!!