Work-sharing (WS) is a program that helps employers and workers avoid layoffs when economic activity outside the employer`s control temporarily declines. The program provides Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to eligible workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours and share available work while their employer recovers. Work-sharing is an agreement between employers, workers and the Canadian government. In Western Canada and Territories: EDSC. Wt. WS-TP. ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca The employer and workers (and, if applicable, the union) must commit to a work-sharing agreement and apply jointly. The COVID-19 measures put in place by Service Canada have been optimized to reduce the processing time before the start date of the agreement to 10 business days (before 30 business days). As a result, employers currently have to submit their applications at least 10 business days before the start date of the agreement (for more details, see the COVID-19 work-sharing program). DGOP.
Tp. REP-RES. Ws. Pob. ESDC@servicecanada.gc.c The Canadian government has implemented temporary exceptional measures that extend the maximum duration of work-sharing agreements across Canada from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for businesses affected by the decline in activity due to COVID-19, as well as for the steel and aluminum sectors. Go to the “Work-Sharing Temporary Special Measures” page to find out if you qualify. Please note that work-sharing agreements can only start on a Sunday to align with the EI payment cycle, taking this into account when planning your work-sharing application. Incomplete work-sharing applications may delay Service Canada`s evaluation of your application. The proposed reduction in working time should be in line with the number of temporary layoffs expected. For example, when an employer asks for a 40% reduction in working time, the employer must declare that about 40% of workers must be laid off.
Staff are defined as all employees who work on the company`s site and work in sectors of the company affected by the labour shortage. The amount of benefits paid for a week of the division of labour is calculated by comparing the hours of work omitted under the WS agreement with those that the applicant would normally have worked. Benefits are paid as a percentage of missed hours. The WS program offers employers an option if conditions that are not under their control, they are not able to support regular schedules for all their employees.