The Week in Review #6: Key COVID-19 Developments for Ontario Employers
This is the sixth bulletin in a weekly series that provides a recap of important COVID-19 developments and their impact on employers as they navigate these challenging times. This recap covers the week of April 27, 2020 and is current as of May 4, 2020.
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour Has Not Upheld Any COVID-19 Related Work Refusals to Date
Today the Toronto Star reported that the Ontario Ministry of Labour (“MOL”) has not upheld any work refusals by workers based on concerns relating to COVID-19 to date. Below we have set out an overview of workers’ right to refuse unsafe work in Ontario and discuss the significance of today’s news and what it means […]
Penalties for Violating Ontario’s Emergency Orders and New COVID-19 By-laws in the Greater Toronto Area
Most Ontario employers know that the province has issued a number of emergency orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the closure of non-essential workplaces and prohibiting public events and social gatherings of five people or more (the “Emergency Orders”). It is also important for employers to understand the potential penalties that they may […]
The Government Has Announced a Huge Increase in the Federal Wage Subsidy for Small- & Medium-sized Businesses, Among Other Financial Supports for Employers
On March 27, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government is increasing the amount of wage subsidies available to businesses. In addition to the 10% wage subsidy announced last week for small businesses (the “Wage Subsidy”), the government has announced a separate 75% wage subsidy in an effort to help prevent layoffs […]
The Ontario Government has Announced that WSIB Premiums can be Deferred for 6 Months for All Businesses due to COVID-19
On March 26, 2020, as part of measures to provide financial relief to employers coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government announced premium reporting and payment to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Ontario has Ordered Non-essential Businesses to Close for Two Weeks Starting March 25 Due to COVID-19
On March 23, 2020, Premier Doug Ford announced that Ontario is ordering all non-essential businesses to shut down for at least fourteen (14) days,
COVID-19 and the Workplace: ESA Amendments, Federal Benefits and Layoff Principles
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on how Canadian employers conduct business. Canada’s federal and provincial governments have been continuously announcing measures to lessen the impact of the pandemic on employers and employees.
Be Prepared, Not Alarmed: What Employers Should Know About COVID-19
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (“Coronavirus” or “COVID-19”) outbreak, first reported from Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019, to be a “pandemic”.
The Williams HR team: At your side in a time of crisis
The events of the past few days, marked by a dramatic escalation of the coronavirus pandemic, have put tremendous strain on virtually every organization across Canada.
The Ontario Court of Appeal Has Affirmed Limits on When Saving Provisions Can Remedy Unenforceable Termination Clauses
The Ontario Court of Appeal (“ONCA”) recently affirmed that a saving provision,