As many of our readers and clients know, we have been cautioning that the legality of certain layoffs and job changes necessitated by COVID-19 is uncertain. Generally, layoffs are only legal if the employment contract gives the employer the right to layoff, and many other job changes, such as reductions in hours or pay, raise the risk of constructive dismissal. We anticipated that at some point the Ontario government may weigh in and change the law – on Friday they did.
Continue Reading Big Changes for COVID-19 Layoffs in Ontario: New O. Reg 228/20 Infectious Disease Emergency Leave Curtails Constructive Dismissal Claims
A Guide for Employers During COVID-19 – May 22 update
A Guide for Employers during COVID-19
This Guide sets out the key employment law issues to consider, as well as the government’s financial relief options to explore to get through this deep economic crisis. (Last Updated May 22, 2020).
Further free resources can be found here.
Should you need legal advice on how to manage
Government Benefits and Bringing Employees Back: The CERB and CEWS
This week in Ontario many businesses are re-opening. Employers and employees alike have questions about going back to work and the intersection of re-starting businesses with the various government subsidies that have been tiding many people over.
Bringing Employees Back to Work Using the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Many employers have laid off a good portion of their workforce and now with re-opening are looking to bring some of those workers back. Businesses that have been hit hard financially may be able to take advantage of the CEWS while earnings are still uncertain as business ramps back up. Getting the CEWS for employees who have been laid off is a little complicated because of the definition of an eligible employee. But first, let’s look at eligible employers. Continue Reading Government Benefits and Bringing Employees Back: The CERB and CEWS
A Guide for Employers During COVID-19 – May 8 update
A Guide for Employers during COVID-19
This Guide for Employers During COVID-19 sets out the key employment law issues to consider, as well as the government’s financial relief options to explore to get through this deep economic crisis. (Last Updated May 8, 2020).
Further free resources can be found here.
Should you need legal advice
Re-opening Your Business During COVID-19
Many provinces across Canada have started the process of re-opening businesses. In Ontario, a select few seasonal businesses have been allowed to open this week with restrictions. These include seasonal businesses and some essential construction. Check out the Provincial News Release for the details.
While the list is still very short, we can be sure
How Can I Afford Legal Advice if My Business is Sinking?
How Can I Afford Legal Advice?
Many employers are facing rock hard choices right now: layoff on shaky legal ground or go bankrupt? Let some employees go, but how to afford termination pay? Offer more than ESA minimums to get a release or risk a claim down the road?
Since early March 2020, we’ve found
Rightsizing Your Workforce During COVID-19
Unchartered Workplace Waters
For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, the impact of COVID-19 has resulted in unprecedented losses in a short period of time. It has been a time of incredible stress, uncertainty and countless questions about how you can stay afloat, best manage your team and, eventually, rebuild.
At SpringLaw, we have been navigating
A Guide for Employers during COVID-19
A Guide for Employers during COVID-19
This Guide for Employers During COVID-19 sets out the key employment law issues to consider, as well as the government’s financial relief options to explore to get through this deep economic crisis. (Last Updated May 8, 2020).
Further free resources can be found here.
Should you need legal advice
Who Can Get the CERB?
By now the CERB (the Canada Emergency Response Benefit) has entered the common parlance but questions about this benefit still abound. Employers and employees are still puzzling over some aspects of this benefit. We address some of the confusion in this post.
Can I Get the CERB if I Quit?
We have come across several