COVID-19 is an unprecedented global crisis. With the rapid pace of changing information, this is intended to be a central ‘hub’ for employers to access relevant information and resources. We’re here to help.
Together, we will get through this.
The return to the workplace bringing a new set of decisions to make and obstacles to overcome for employers. There is a lot to think about – but you don’t have to do it alone. In addition to helpful tools and resources, including our free COVID-19 Return to Work Framework tool, Envol is now offering a customized COVID-19 Return to Work Package for employers.
Our team of HR experts will collaborate with you to develop a tailored return to work plan, optimized for your unique needs, so that you can focus on positioning your business for growth.
Plan your return to work.
Package of printable posters.
Bring back your team.
Pivot to remote onboarding.
Compassionate layoffs in a crisis.
Checklist for remote offboarding.
Financial support for employers.
Respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
Support your employees.
NOTE: We recommend consulting with your accountant before submitting your CEWS application. If you need an accountant, click here for recommendations.
Click here for more information on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
Click here to confirm your eligibility for the CEWS.
Public bodies are not eligible for this subsidy. Public bodies generally include municipalities and local governments, Crown corporations, wholly owned municipal corporations, public universities, colleges, schools and hospitals.
Click here to determine your eligible employees.
Calculate your subsidy amount using the Canada Revenue Agency Calculator
Click here for application instructions.
Click here for more information on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, including how to calculate wages
Note: May be claimed separately from or in addition to CEWS
10% of remuneration paid (up to $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer)
3-month period from March 18, 2020 -June 20, 2020
Click here for the CRA: Frequently Asked Questions – Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers
Click here for the Department of Finance news release (April 1, 2020)
Note: The CECRA was announced on April 17, 2020 and still has not passed into legislation. The government announced that implementation of the program will require a partnership with provincial and territorial governments who are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships.
Keep staff employed where those in a defined working unit can share hours of work while qualifying for EI (if eligible) to top-up on expenses, where reduction of work is between 10% and 60% of normal working hours.
Work-sharing is a program to help eligible employers avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity which is beyond the control of the employer.
The program provides eligible employees with Employment Insurance Benefits as income support. Employees who have been affected by the reduction in business must agree to work a reduced schedule and share available work with other employees over a specified time period. Both the employer and the employee must apply to participate in a Work-Sharing program together.
The Federal Government’s special measures recently implemented in response to COVID-19 include:
To be eligible for a Work-Sharing program, employers must:
Note: A reduction in revenue alone for a non-profit organization does not qualify for Work Sharing (I.e. a decrease in grants, donations, memberships). The level of business activity must have been affected.
To be eligible for a Work-Sharing program, employees must:
The amount of benefits paid for a week of Work-Sharing is calculated by comparing the hours of work missed because of the Work-Sharing agreement against the hours the claimant would have normally worked. Benefits are paid as a percentage of hours missed. The benefit rate is established in the same manner as the benefit rate for all other EI claims, 55% of the lost income up to a maximum amount of $54,200 (click here for information regarding calculating the benefit rate for EI).
The following example is adapted from the Service Canada website:
Interest-free loans up to $40,000. 25% of the loan (up to $10,000) is forgivable if the balance is repaid by December 31, 2022.
Within three weeks after March 27, 2020
Contact your financial institution.
Click here for government information about new loan programs for businesses
Click here for government announcement of New Canada Emergency Business Account
Guarantee operating credit and term loans up to $6.25 million. In partnership with Export Development Canada.
Within three weeks after March 27, 2020
Contact your financial institution.
Click here for government information about new loan programs for businesses
Click here for government announcement of New Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Incremental term loans up to $6.25 million. In partnership with Business Development Bank of Canada.
Within three weeks after March 27, 2020
Contact your financial institution.
Click here for government information about new loan programs for businesses
The CRA is extending the deadline to file and pay income taxes. Effective immediately, new deadlines are as follows:
Click here for more information on income tax filing dates
Taxpayers who are required to make filings (I.e. returns, designations, elections, information requests) that are due after March 18, 2020 can defer their filings to June 1, 2020.
Click here for CRA’s additional measures for individuals and businesses
The CRA is allowing all businesses to defer until after June 30, 2020 the payment of tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020.
Click here for more information on GST, HST and Customs and Duties Tax Filing Extension
Is your business looking to hire? There are a number of great hiring grants that your business may be eligible for.
Contact our team of HR Specialists to learn more and explore your options: [email protected]
Currently, you cannot earn any income while collecting the CERB. Justin Trudeau indicated durTo qualify, you must have 14 consecutive days without income for the first 4-week period, and no income for each additional period you collect the CERB.
If I am in receipt of dividends am I eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit?
Yes, as long as the dividends are non-eligible dividends (generally, those paid out of corporate income taxed at the small business rate). An individual could count this income towards the $5,000 income requirement to be eligible for CERB.
Source: Government of Canada CERB Application Questions
There are a total of seven 4-week eligibility periods. You can claim the CERB for up to a maximum of 16 weeks (4 periods).
Source: CRA Website (https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html)
The government has indicated a schedule for applications, based on your birth month:
Source: CRA Website (https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html)
Note: Applications are available 21 hours a day, 7 days a week. Both application methods will be down between 3am ET and 6am ET for maintenance.
Note: No need to submit a medical certificate if you are claiming to be sick or caring for someone who is sick.
Additional documentation may be required at a later date to prove your eligibility.
Note: There were reports of significant delays and clogged lines as of Monday, April 6th.
If you earn less than $1,000 per month, you are eligible to apply.
Monthly payments, May through August
Additional legislation is required before this bill can be implemented.
Application information will be released soon.
The Province of British Columbia is providing a $1,000 one-time tax-free payment to those workers unable to work due to COVID-19 whether because they have been laid off, are sick, or are in quarantine. The credit is also available to those who are collecting employment insurance or the Canadian Economic Response Benefit.
Click here to learn more about the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers
The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment to families raising children under the age of 18. During COVID-19, the government will be providing an additional $300 per child for the 2019/2020 benefit year. This will be part of the scheduled benefit payment in May.
Please note: If you already receive the CCB from the government, you don’t need to take any action to receive this additional benefit.
Individuals eligible for this benefit must meet all of the following criteria:
Click here to apply for the CCB
Click here for more information on the increase of the Child Care Benefit
No rent increases are allowed in BC effective April 1s, 2020 for the duration of the state of emergency. In addition, evictions will not be permitted during COVID-19, unless accepted as a special circumstance by the Residential Tenancy Branch for safety reasons.
No application needed.
Click here for more information on rental guidelines during COVID-19
Click here for more information on renter and landlord support
For up to three months through the end of June, the program offers $300 per month for eligible applicants with no dependents and $500 per month for eligible households with dependents. Roommates will be able to apply for the supplement individually. Paid directly to landlords via direct deposit.
Households need to meet each of the following criteria to qualify for the BC Temporary Rental Supplement:
Tenants must be renting a primary residence in British Columbia and the unit must be covered under the Residential Tenancy Act, the Manufactured Home Act, or the Cooperative Association Act.
Tenants are not eligible if their rent is subsidized by any other government program. Other government programs include: subsidized housing; rent supplements such as Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER) or the Rental Assistance Program (RAP); Income Assistance; and Disability Assistance.
Applications accepted through BC Housing: Apply now.
Mortgage payment deferral options may be available to owners during the COVID-19 crisis. The deferral is an agreement between an owner and a lender to agree to pause mortgage payments for a certain amount of time. Once the agreement ends, the mortgage payments return to normal and the missed payments – including principal and accumulated interest are repaid.
Contact your lender.
BC Hydro is offering the following support plans, as well as halting all service disconnections for non-payment of bills and reducing electricity rates by 1%:
Any employees who have federal student loans will be excused from making payments on the principle or interest from March 30, 2020 to September 30, 2020. During this time, no interest will accumulate. This also applies to provincial loans from the following provinces:
No action needed. All direct deposit payments for loan payments will be halted and those who pay by cheque do not need to send in cheques during this time period.
More information on the moratorium on the repayment of Canada student loans here
A one-time GST credit will be paid out by early May 2020 to low- and modest-income families to support during COVID-19. The credit will be worth $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples.
You are generally eligible for the GST tax credit if you are one of the following:
Note: Parents sharing custody may be eligible for half of the GST credit.
You don’t need to apply for this benefit. It will be paid out automatically according to your tax return.
Taxpayers who are required to make filings (I.e. returns, elections, designations, information requests) that are due after March 18, 2020 can defer these filings to June 1, 2020 effective immediately.
Click here for CRA’s additional measures for individuals and businesses
Click here for more information on income tax filing dates
The Province is providing an enhanced climate action tax credit for those employees who pay income tax and who are otherwise eligible for that credit. This credit will be a one-time boost of up to $564 for eligible families of 4 and $218 for eligible individuals in an enhanced payment in July.
Individuals are eligible to receive the credit if they are a resident of B.C. and they:
Children under 18 years old must be registered for the CCB to qualify. No other action is needed. The benefit is paid out according to your income tax return.
Click here for more information on the climate action tax credit
On March 23, 2020 BC passed legislation to provide job-protected COVID-19 leave for employees who are unable to work for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill 16, Employment Standards Amendment Act (No. 2), 2020 entitles employees to:
Employees wishing to take COVID-19 Leave will not be required to provide a medical note to employers. However, employers can require that employees provide evidence that is reasonable in the circumstances, as soon as practicable, to substantiate their absence.
Brianna Blaney
Envol Strategies
[email protected]
Emily Cornett-Ching
Envol Strategies
[email protected]
Rachel Maxcy
Envol Strategies
[email protected]
Brandon Hillis
Roper Greyell LLP
[email protected]
Sara Forte
Forte Law
[email protected]
Andrea Raso
Clark Wilson LLP
[email protected]
Khalid Amlani
Akeroyd Leung Amlani CPAs
[email protected]
Steve Leung
Akeroyd Leung Amlani CPAs
[email protected]
Stephanie Sang
Granted Consulting
[email protected]
Phone 866.306.6805 | Email hello[at]envolstrategies.com
Envol Solutions Inc. is a boutique human capital consulting firm, specializing in human resources, employer branding and recruiting solutions. Further details can be found at www.envolstrategies.com.
This publication is intended as a general overview and discussion of the subjects dealt with, and does not constitute advice. It is not intended to be, and should not be used as, a substitute for taking legal advice in any specific situation. Note past results are not guarantees of future results. Each matter is individual and will be decided on its own facts.
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