On June 24, 2020, the federal government published regulations that federally-regulated employers must follow to investigate, record, report, prevent and provide training with respect to work place harassment and violence, including sexual harassment.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association received confirmation from US Customs & Border Protection headquarters that Canadians are exempt from President Trump's June 22, 2020 proclamation.
On June 16, 2020, Ontario released a Guide to help employers satisfy their responsibilities under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers from contracting COVID-19.
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently rendered a decision pertaining to the enforceability of termination provisions in employment contracts, holding that the proper method is to analyze the agreement as a whole rather than on a piecemeal basis.
Canadian businesses have suffered severe financial distress due to COVID-19. Many employers have been forced to lay off their employees hoping they would only be required to do so temporarily.
Following the successful initial loosening of public health measures in Stage 1, Ontario is taking a regional approach to Stage 2 reopening, which will begin on June 12, 2020.
The Canadian federal government has introduced Bill C-17, An Act respecting additional COVID-19 measures, for first reading. If passed in its current form, Bill C-17 would, among other things, make changes to the CEWS and the CERB.
Although Canadian employers that provide essential services have remained open since the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic, other employers were required to close their physical operations.
