Covid-19 Blog

The articles listed below are intended to provide readers with general information only. They should not be regarded or relied upon as legal advice or opinion. Accessing, reading, relying on or otherwise using the articles listed below does not, under any circumstances, create a lawyer-client relationship between you and Emond Harnden. A lawyer-client relationship will only form if and when Emond Harnden specifically and expressly agrees to act for you on a particular matter and executes a retainer agreement to that effect. For more information, please consult our Terms of Use.

Mandating COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace

February 10, 2021

In Ontario, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has begun. With doses of the vaccination now available for many individuals working in the health care, hospital and long-term care sectors, employers in these fields and beyond are considering whether immunization against COVID-19... This entry was posted in Health and Safety Issues, Privacy Considerations.

Details of Emergency Declaration and Impact on Ontario Employers Now Available

January 15, 2021

As we advised readers in our earlier Focus Alert, the Province of Ontario has declared a second provincial emergency in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the stay-at-home order that took effect as of 12:01 a.m. on Thursday,... This entry was posted in Health and Safety Issues, Pandemic Planning, Working from Home.

Second Provincial Emergency Declared

January 13, 2021

On January 12, 2021, the Province of Ontario declared a second provincial emergency in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). As part of the declaration, the Province has issued a stay-at-home order... This entry was posted in Pandemic Planning.

Return to Work & School

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New Mandatory Screening for Employees and Essential Visitors in Ontario Workplaces

October 1, 2020

As part of increased measures to help stop the surge of COVID-19 cases, the Government of Ontario amended O. Reg 364/20: Rules for Areas in Stage 3 (the “Regulation”) effective September 26, 2020. The amendment requires any person responsible for... This entry was posted in Government Support Measures, Return to Work & School.

FAQ: Return to School and Requests for Accommodation on the Grounds of Family Status in the Workplace

August 28, 2020

Employers can expect that many parents whose children will be engaged in remote learning this coming school year, either on a part-time or full-time basis, will request accommodation in the coming months. Below, we address some of the most frequently... This entry was posted in Return to Work & School.

Temporary Lay-offs

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Provincial Government Extends the COVID-19 Period under the Employment Standards Act’s Infectious Disease Emergency Leave Regulation to July 3, 2021 and Provides Greater Flexibility to Employers and Unions in the Hospitality, Tourism and Convention and Trade Show Industries

December 22, 2020

As initially detailed in one of our early COVID-19 Focus Alerts, O. Reg. 228/ 20 – the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (“IDEL”) regulation under the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) – was put in place in order to provide employers impacted... This entry was posted in Government Support Measures, Temporary Lay-offs.

CRA Releases Updated Guidelines on Tax Deductions for Work-From-Home Expenses During the Pandemic

December 21, 2020

Although some employees were permitted to make personal income tax deductions related to certain home office expenses even before COVID-19 arrived on Canadian soil, these were subject to fairly stringent eligibility and compliance requirements. In response to the pandemic and... This entry was posted in Government Support Measures, Temporary Lay-offs.

Pandemic Planning

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Details of Emergency Declaration and Impact on Ontario Employers Now Available

January 15, 2021

Second Provincial Emergency Declared

January 13, 2021

EI Benefits

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COVID-19 Emergency Response Act Receives Royal Assent

March 26, 2020

On March 25, 2020, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act (Bill C-13) received Royal Assent. The legislation outlines broad amendments and measures to address wide-ranging economic and other issues arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have included below... This entry was posted in EI Benefits, Focus Alerts, Government Support Measures, New, Sick Leave and Leaves of Absence.

Sick Leave and Leaves of Absence

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Government Extends COVID-19 Leave Available Under the Canada Labour Code by up to 8 Weeks

July 24, 2020

In a previous Focus Alert, we discussed the creation and implementation of the temporary new “Leave Related to COVID-19” (or “COVID-19 Leave”) for federally regulated employees subject to the application of the Canada Labour Code. Initially, COVID-19 Leave was subject... This entry was posted in Government Support Measures, Sick Leave and Leaves of Absence.

Arbitrator finds full-time employees are only entitled to paid sick leave if they are symptomatic or tested positive for COVID-19

May 29, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our workplaces, many unionized employers may have been questioning whether employees who are quarantined (self-isolating) but who are not themselves ill or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or do not test positive (or do... This entry was posted in Sick Leave and Leaves of Absence.

Working from Home

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Details of Emergency Declaration and Impact on Ontario Employers Now Available

January 15, 2021

Remote Work Considerations: An Employer’s Guide

March 25, 2020

As the world manages its way through the current COVID-19 global pandemic, employers are required to act quickly to implement remote work arrangements. The urgency in implementing such arrangements has only become greater since the government of Ontario announced the... This entry was posted in Focus Alerts, Health and Safety Issues, New, Privacy Considerations, Working from Home.

Health and Safety Issues

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Mandating COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace

February 10, 2021

Details of Emergency Declaration and Impact on Ontario Employers Now Available

January 15, 2021

Privacy Considerations

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Mandating COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace

February 10, 2021

Privacy Considerations for School Boards in the Era of Online Learning

April 21, 2020

While many school boards in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada begin distance learning in attempt to salvage the school year, many school boards wonder how to respect their duties in relation to the privacy of their students, their employees and... This entry was posted in Education Law Alerts, Privacy Considerations and tagged Privacy Considerations.

Government Support Measures

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New Pandemic-Related Requirements for Ottawa Employers

January 7, 2021

On December 18, 2020, Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Ottawa (the “City”), issued a Letter of Instruction (the “Letter”) to all employers in the City permitted to be open under the Reopening Ontario Act and... This entry was posted in Government Support Measures.

Rising COVID-19 Case Numbers Prompt Province-wide Shutdown

December 22, 2020

On December 21, 2020, the Ontario government confirmed a widely expected mandatory shutdown as the province recorded more than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Boxing Day (Saturday, December 26,... This entry was posted in Government Support Measures.

Latest Articles

Return to Work & School

Temporary Lay-offs

Pandemic Planning

EI Benefits

Sick Leave and Leaves of Absence

Working from Home

Health and Safety Issues

Privacy Considerations

Government Support Measures