COVID-19

How your business manages its way through the pandemic will be a strong measure of its ability to achieve post-pandemic success. No one knows how we’ll emerge from this. Will corporate culture change? Will our offices become mere hubs for periodic interaction and specific purposes, leaving many of us to continue working remotely? Will we […]

THE NEW HEALTH AND SAFETY “BEST PRACTICES” GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESSES IN THE CKL The Government of Ontario’s general resources page for all sector-specific guidelines is here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/resources-prevent-covid-19-workplace Specifically, these “best practices” guidelines apply to the manufacturing, food manufacturing/processing, restaurant/food service and agricultural sectors. Today, these businesses in the CKL will be permitted to reopen operations,

May 1 – The Ontario government is allowing certain businesses and workplaces to reopen, provided they comply with strict public health measures and operate safely during the COVID-19 outbreak. Those permitted to start up include seasonal businesses and some essential construction projects. For this purpose, the government, in partnership with Ontario's health and safety associations,

Reduces commercial rent by 75% if affected by COVID-19 Must pay less than$50,000 monthly rent to qualify Must have stopped operating or suffered a 70% reduction in gross revenue Available for April, May and June Landlord must apply Landlord pays 25% of monthly rent; tenant pays 25% to landlord; government gives loan to landlord for

  The Ontario government today released new sector-specific safety guidelines to business that will reopen during the pandemic. They provide direction to those working in manufacturing, food manufacturing and processing, restaurant and food service, and the agricultural sector. These measures build on more than 60 guidelines developed by Ontario's health and safety associations in response

WORK REFUSALS BY EMPLOYEES Must be a “danger” to returning to work Employers must fulfill the statutory duty to take any reasonable steps to ensure health and safety in the workplace – More information here: https://wardlegal.ca/31587872329926 All governmental orders and health officials’ recommendations should be followed in the workplace – More information here: https://wardlegal.ca/31587872329932 Consider

A stern warning recently by the Family Court to separated parents who act unreasonably, uncooperatively or who exercise self-help:  "So perhaps I can go one step further.  Perhaps I can give high conflict parents a bit of a warning.   a.      Just because a Triage judge decides an issue isn’t urgent, it doesn’t mean the issue isn’t important. 

CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT (CERB) $500 weekly – maximum of 16 weeks Retroactive to Mar. 15, 2020 Available between Mar. 15 and Oct. 3, 2020 Must be 15 and Canadian resident Must have declared $5,000 total income in preceding 12 months or in 2019 (including by self-employment) 7, 4-week eligibility cycles or claiming periods Does

Employers in the City of Kawartha Lakes, tips to you for recalling employees from lay offs during the pandemic: Must recall before end of 13-week statutory period (within rolling 20 week period); maximum is 35 weeks during any 52-week period if certain conditions apply – otherwise deemed termination – More information about lay off rules

The federal and Ontario governments have agreed to common principles to gradually restart our economy: taking a science and evidence-based approach to decision-making; coordination and collaboration between all jurisdictions; continued accountability and transparency of all governments; and flexibility and proportionality as information changes over time. They jointly agreed on these mandatory criteria and measures to