Details will soon be announced for further amendments to the new Canada Emergency Response Benefits (CERB) to fill in the gaps of individuals experiencing income loss who were still otherwise ineligible for the program. The CERB benefit was designed to provide income support of $2,000 per month for 4 months to those individuals who suffered…
Read MoreWhat kinds of COVID-19 benefits programs has the government implemented?
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 PandemicBoth the Federal government and provincial government in British Columbia are implementing new programs in effort to develop an economic response plan to the detrimental effects COVID-19 will ultimately have on our economy. Due to the ever-evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, government programming has been fluctuating and changing on an almost day-to-day basis. Therefore,…
Read MoreParenting amidst a Pandemic
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 Pandemic, Family LawThe current COVID-19 crisis has placed us in a position most of us have never been in before. This statement certainly applies to recently separated parents and this is raising new questions and problems regarding parenting after separation. It is not uncommon for parenting disputes to arise out of disagreements over healthcare decisions. Often parents…
Read MoreFAQ For Covid-19 and Real Estate
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 PandemicThe outbreak of Covid-19 has put tremendous pressure on everyone and has thrown several contracts into uncertainty. If you have a contract to buy or sell property, or if you are thinking of entering into a contract, keep the below points in mind, and reach out to one of the real estate lawyers at Doak…
Read MoreHow COVID-19 has affected Employment Law
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 PandemicCOVID-19 has changed our world in profound and unprecedented ways. Employment and HR Law has been effected in almost immediate and uncommon ways with unexpected lay offs, terminations, temporary business closures, Employment Insurance benefit, Emergency Benefits for employees who don't qualify for E.I. benefits, sickness benefits, etc. These issues are changing rapidly and employers need…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Layoffs and Employment and Emergency Benefits Available
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 PandemicWith unprecedented layoffs in almost every industry and near-constant changes to the Employment Insurance Act and emergency legislation being implemented, below is a summary of benefits that are currently available to Canadians, have recently been updated and that will become available in short order to aid income losses during this time: Regular Employment Insurance Benefits:…
Read MoreCOVID-19 – The Legality of Temporary Lay Offs
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 PandemicOn March 20, 2020, Toronto employment lawyer Howard Levitt wrote an article for the Financial Post entitled, “Looking to temporarily lay off staff during the coronavirus crisis? Wait, that’s illegal”. While technically a correct interpretation of the common law regarding temporary lay offs, the article is also fundamentally irresponsible and people should really be hesitant…
Read MoreI think I need to layoff some of my employees because of the negative affect COVID-19 is having on my business. How do layoffs work in non-unionized work environments?
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 Pandemic"I think I need to layoff some of my employees because of the negative affect COVID-19 is having on my business. How do layoffs work in non-unionized work environments?" A “layoff” is a temporary pause in employment that does not exceed 13 weeks in a 20 consecutive week period. If a layoff is longer than…
Read MoreWould an employee who has COVID-19 have a ‘disability’ and be protected under BC Human Rights Act?
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 Pandemic, UncategorizedWould an employee who has COVID-19 have a ‘disability’ and be protected under BC Human Rights Act? The BC Human Rights Code provides that an employer must not refuse to employ, refuse to continue to employ or discriminate against an employee because of their: Race Colour Ancestry Place of origin Political belief Religion Marital status…
Read MoreCan an Employment Contract be Frustrated by Pandemic?
TagsEmployment and HR Law for the COVID-19 PandemicThe Legal Implications of COVID-19 and section 65(1)(d) of the Employment Standards Act: Can an Employment Contract be Frustrated by Pandemic? One of the main principles of the Employment Standards Act (the “ESA”) is the legislated notice requirements that employees are entitled to be given upon a ‘without cause’ termination. The minimum reasonable notice periods…
Read More