Below are the key COVID-19 & legislation topics that touch on the workplace from December 31 to January 6, 2022.
Like last year, CPP contributions are going up again by more than originally planned, and the reason again lies with the unique impacts of the pandemic on the labour market.
A KPMG note in November said the maximum employer and employee contributions will hit $3,499 each in 2022, an increase from $3,166 this year. For self-employed contributions, the maximum amount will be $6,999, up from $6,332.
For 2022, the earnings ceiling, known as the yearly maximum pensionable earnings or YMPE, was supposed to be $63,700, an increase of $2,100 from the 2021 limit. But the actual amount is going to be higher at $64,900, for a 5.3% increase, which is the largest in three decades.
Expanded access to the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) is now in effect.
Previously announced in December, the program now includes workers in regions where provincial or territorial governments have introduced capacity-limiting restrictions of 50% or more.
The benefit will provide $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) per week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown, and who have lost 50% or more of their income as a result. Payment will be retroactive to Dec. 19, 2021.
Canadians in designated regions affected by lockdowns or qualifying capacity restrictions can apply for the benefit.
Ottawa has clarified the rules when it comes to records of employment (ROEs) and vaccine mandates. The government is providing additional information to that provided in October.
If employees are directly affected by a lockdown as a result of COVID-19 and they’re no longer working, employers must issue an ROE.
And in a Dec. 24 update, the federal government confirmed that:
Access further, updated EI information for employers here.
The Ontario government has raised the general minimum wage to $15.00 per hour. As of January 1, 2022, the following wages are in place in Ontario:
The Ontario government is temporarily moving the province into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen with modifications that take into account the province’s successful vaccination efforts.
These measures include, but are not limited to:
Please view the regulation for the full list of mandatory public health and workplace safety measures.
The CMOH Order 01-2022 sets out isolation and related masking requirements in Alberta.
Effective January 3, Albertans are legally required to isolate as outlined below:
CMOH Order 01-2022 : 2022 COVID-19 response
The requirement to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 is being reduced to 5 days for vaccinated people without symptoms.
People who haven't been vaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days. Previously, vaccinated people were required to isolate for 7 days.
This topic now has its own section as the topic heats up and the list of employers who announce mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations grows.
Nearly 500 employees at the City of Toronto have lost their jobs because of the municipality’s vaccine mandate.
As January 2, staff were expected to comply with the vaccination policy, and while 98.6% of the workforce complied — 32,478 workers — 461 failed to meet the requirement.
Citing the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cineplex has announced it is closing its 67 movie theatres in Ontario — and temporarily laying off up to 5,000 workers.
Sarah Visca is the Operations Manager at ConnectsUs HR, a company that provides tools & resources to quickly set up a Human Resources department.
You can contact her here.
