Companies must not arbitrarily prevent an independent contractor from participating in the work due to covid-19 concerns. However, if the company has legitimate safety concerns (p.B if the employee has symptoms of COVID-19), the company may prevent the contractor from participating in the work. Companies should pay attention to the wording of the contract so as not to accidentally violate the contract (for example.B. the contract may provide that the independent contractor receives a minimum number of hours of work in a given week or month). Companies should also consider other provisions that allow the contractor to work safely (e.B. remote work). The latest figures from the government`s CERB show benefits of $62.75 billion for 8.46 million people. About half of these beneficiaries went to EI-eligible workers. These stark numbers were the reason why the EI system was suspended in favour of the CERB in March, as federal officials feared that the volume of claims would overwhelm the decades-old system. In addition, workers who are still employed, but do not receive income due to disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19, are also eligible for cerB.

This will help companies retain their employees as they go through these difficult times, while ensuring they retain the ability to resume operations quickly as soon as possible. However, if there are no legitimate safety concerns, but the company wants to impose an unpaid leave on the contractor out of caution who does not comply with government or public health directives, the risk of liability may exist. Read: Coronavirus emergency benefits don`t go far enough, demand workers say Q: Can an organization prevent an independent contractor from participating in the work due to covid-19 concerns? If the contractor has symptoms of COVID-19, can they be sent home without payment? The latest figures from the government`s CERB show benefits of $62.75 billion for 8.46 million people. About half of these beneficiaries went to EI-eligible workers. The CERB was available to employees, the self-employed, contract workers and parents who were receiving an Employment Insurance (EI) parental allowance. There were also people available to EI who had used all their services and could not find work. If an employee has symptoms of COVID-19, a company could likely identify a legitimate safety issue and send the contractor home. As a general rule, there is no obligation to pay, unless otherwise stipulated in the contract.

The contractor may then be on leave without pay, depending on the circumstances. Q: Can an organization terminate contracts for independent contractors due to the financial impact of COVID-19? A: Yes, adding remote work clauses to contracts can allow contractors to ensure that their health and safety rights are protected and can also provide some security. Depending on the wording of the clause, this can be beneficial for both parties. It is crucial that contracts are designed and implemented correctly, otherwise the paper will not be worth it. Q: If an independent contractor develops COVID-19 in the workplace, is the organization required to close the workplace? In particular, if an independent contractor is in fact an employee or dependent contractor, despite the agreement that concerns him as an independent contractor, he may be entitled to a much higher remuneration. You can read more about the misclassification of employees as contractors here. The Canadian government will cover a portion of the cost of providing temporary financial support to these low-income workers, helping employers keep their employees on staff while ensuring fairness. With this new transfer, provinces and territories will be able to provide an increase to their essential low-income workforce (those earning less than $2,500 per month). This will give a much-needed boost to those on the front lines in hospitals, to those who care for seniors in long-term care facilities, to those who work so hard to make sure there is food on our shelves and tables, and others. We continue to work with the provinces and territories to implement this measure, and more details will be released shortly.

If a contractor has symptoms of COVID-19, can they be sent home without payment? A: Independent contractors who are unemployed due to COVID-19 may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Federal Government Extends CERB to Workers Earning Up to $1,000 Per Month The CERB, which provides $2,000 per month for up to four months retroactive to March 15, applies to employees, as well as contract and self-employed workers — who would not be eligible for EI — and Canadians who are still employed but do not receive income due to work interruptions. Initially, it was limited to Canadians who had lost 100% of their income and could prove that they had not worked for two weeks. CerB gave $500 a week to workers who had to stop working due to COVID-19. This may be because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the frustration of gig workers, who found that the benefit did not cover employees who had lost a significant portion of their income, but not all. Quebec and British Columbia have already introduced direct wage support for low-income workers in key service sectors. With today`s announcement, the federal government will share the cost of this wage support through the new transfer to these provinces. ”Maybe you`re a volunteer firefighter or contractor who can pick up shifts, or you have a part-time job at a grocery store,” he said at his daily news conference Wednesday. ”Even if you`re still working or want to go back to work, you`ll probably need help making ends meet.” A: Not necessarily. As is often the case, it depends on the circumstances and all relevant factors. For example, if the contractor has worked on a particular floor or section of the business and is likely to have been in contact with several other workers on that floor or section, the company may simply need to relieve those workers of the work and close that particular section. The Government created the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to support workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This taxable benefit provides $2,000 every four weeks for up to four months to workers who lose their income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Q: What financial support is available to independent contractors who are unable to work due to COVID-19? Given the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an overwhelming amount of information for employers and employees. However, independent contractors may feel left behind. And they`re not entirely wrong. There is not as much information for independent contractors or for the organizations they hire. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed special requirements on low-income workers in certain sectors, including those at the forefront of hospitals and nursing homes, ensuring the integrity of the food supply, or providing essential retail services to Canadians. Note: Government-regulated workers taking the new COVID-19 leave may have been eligible for this benefit. ”We believe the CERB has fulfilled its purpose and the reason it was created is no longer central to our efforts as a government to support workers,” Qualtrough said at an afternoon news conference. ”We`re going to move on.” Q: Can an independent contractor include remote work as a clause in their contract to protect their health and safety during COVID-19? Despite two months of growth after two months of negative readings, Statistics Canada`s preliminary estimate is that economic output fell 12% in the second quarter compared to the first three months of 2020, which would represent a historic decline. .