Service Canada has always offered informational sessions explaining how the process of applying for unemployment benefits works for both employers and employees, and the government agency is now encouraging Canadian businesses to take advantage of the service amid the country’s current pandemic state.
The wake of COVID-19 measures left many businesses suffering, forced to either close or undergo extensive layoffs of employees, which means wage subsidy benefits have been top of mind for lots of Canadians recently.
This has prompted Service Canada to extend their usual information sessions to a virtual format, largely because all in-person services are currently suspended but also because the pandemic has created a larger need for informational support regarding unemployment.
The informational sessions are meant to address any questions about the process of applying for unemployment benefits and are formatted as a presentation followed by a question-and-answer period that totals about an hour.
Employers can expect information on how to issues employee records for those applying to Employment Insurance, and how to avoid issuing layoffs using the Work Sharing Program.
Employees can expect a full explanation about how to apply to the EI program, including how benefits are calculated and how to collect.
They also now include information about the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit and similar wage subsidies developed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as other Service Canada programs and how to navigate their website.
The sessions are provided using WebEx, which offers a video option for attendees to connect as well as an option for attendees to dial in by phone. Attendees don’t need to have any documents on hand for the presentation, but high-speed internet is recommended.
Typically, businesses themselves arrange the sessions for the employees who are a part of a layoff at the same time, as the sessions are often tailored specifically to that business’ situation.
Businesses or organizations interested in organizing one of these information sessions can contact Service Canada toll-free at 1 (800) 367-5693 or 1 (855) 881-9874 from Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST.
