Refusing to work extra hours is risky business for managers. Like all regular employees, managers’ relationships with their employers are governed by Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA). However, regulations under the Act also exempt those “whose work is supervisory or managerial in character” from the overtime provisions, which would otherwise entitle anyone to 1.5 times […]
At the beginning of the pandemic, a multitude of job losses following the emergency lockdown prompted the federal government to implement the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). CERB was set up to provide employed and self-employed Canadians who were affected by COVID-19 with financial support in the form of temporary income replacement. Eligible workers received […]
Canadian employers got a break on their benefits plan costs last year as employees largely stayed home and avoided in-person health practitioners. But experts say the full cost of COVID-19 may only start to show up in the coming year, as mental health challenges, pandemic-delayed treatment for various illnesses and the virus itself could prompt […]
On June 1, 2020, the Ford government introduced amendments to the Employment Standards Act (ESA), the governing statutes that form Ontario’s employment laws. The amendments took the form of O. Reg. 228/20: Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (“IDEL”). IDEL was enacted by the Ontario government as a measure to furlough (e.g. “layoff”) employees who may or […]
This is a very informative wrongful dismissal case that sheds light on the issue of CERB payments vis-à-vis severance, as well as notice entitlements for employees terminated during the pandemic. Plaintiff (Mr. Iriotakis) was successfully represented by our law firm. Mr. Iriotakis was terminated without cause on March 25, 2020. He was 56 years old […]
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), implemented by the government at the beginning of the pandemic to provide Canadians with temporary income replacement, ended on October 3, 2020. Recipients can now transition to EI and other programs.
CERB was introduced with great haste in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Ordinarily, such programs take months and years to design. While it has temporarily replaced the EI benefits program, the government has not presently clarified how CERB will be treated against severance pay. The CRA may require you to pay it back.
Anyone facing a layoff due to COVID-19 should understand how to apply for federal government assistance through the Employment Insurance program, and know your rights if the pandemic persists and the economy slides into a recession.
The Canadian Federal Employment Insurance (EI) program is a social safety net that covers eligible employees temporarily for some income loss when this happens. If you receive notice and/or severance as part of your layoff, then you must understand the implications of severance pay and Employment Insurance.
Bill 148 requires employers to classify workers as employees, dependent contractors or independent contractors. Provincial laws protect dependent contractors just like employees. However, the Federal Income Tax Act does not yet recognize dependent contractor status. What should you do if the CRA wrongfully assesses you as an independent contractor when you are a dependent contractor?