Stay up to date by frequently checking provincial, national and international websites.
- Government of Alberta: COVID-19 information for Albertans (includes Info for Employers and Employees section)
- Government of Canada: COVID-19 Resources for Canadian Businesses
- Centre for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19 Resources
- World Health Organization: COVID-19 Updates
Social distancing measures
Please do your part to keep our community and your business safe by following these guidelines from the Government of Canada:
Social distancing standards are that individuals maintain a spacing of 2 meters apart.
Businesses with staff lunchrooms, boardrooms, etc. need to adhere to social distancing. Consider rotating lunch breaks to maintain social distancing.
Offices should have employees work from home whenever possible.
Home-based businesses do not have occupancy limits, but are directed to follow the social spacing guidelines set by the Government of Canada, including minimizing capacity so that individuals can remain two meters apart.
Please understand Canada's priority right now is to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
We understand these restrictions add complexities and challenges to your business operations, and we thank you for your understanding.
Financial assistance
Assistance to entreprenuers provided by BDC through small business loans, working capital loans and purchase order financing. BDC support https://www.bdc.ca/en/pages/special-support.aspx?special-initiative=covid19
Emergency Financial Assistance
Government of Alberta financial assistance for unexpected emergencies (for all Albertans, not specific to businesses) https://www.alberta.ca/emergency-financial-assistance.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3bnsDgBzZjvrvLj9DUDvUrPG-0Ott6v-_AYTYyVysX7hbzmm1l9mi311s
Employment Insurance (EI)
Sickness benefits provide up to 15 weeks of income replacement and is available to eligible claimants who are unable to work because of illness, injury or quarantine, to allow them time to restore their health and return to work. Canadians quarantined can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-sickness.html
Work-Sharing Program
Program to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/work-sharing.html
Employees - Canada Labour Code
Information about employer responsibilities and employee rights under the Canada Labour Code. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html#h2.1
Maintaining business operations
Prevention
- Use best practices to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, at home and at work.
- Actively encourage anyone who is feeling ill to stay home and away from others.
- Use and encourage good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding touch.
- Consider additional social distancing measures, such as working remotely.
Prepare
- Ensure your business is prepared to handle a potential case or business disruption, including accessing available government resources to mitigate potential financial impacts to your employees and your business.
- Review or create a Business Continuity Plan for your organization, ensuring it contains:
- Process to follow if an employee becomes ill;
- Policies around travel;
- Policies around sick leave;
- How to mitigate risk to essential business functions can continue; and
- Internal and external communications plans.
Respond
- Follow all public health guidelines if you, or a member of your team, is experiencing symptoms, in order to ensure the safety of your workforce and your workspace.
- Call Health Link at 8-1-1 for instructions if you, or a member of your team, is experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing and have travelled outside of Canada, or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19.
- Website: Alberta Health Link
Assist
- Consider how you can support your immediate community through the outbreak
- Offer and provide support to employees and coworkers who are at home.
- Consider whether your organization can provide goods or services to assist those in self-isolation (ie: grocery delivery, online or telephone counselling, internet services).
- Guidelines: Self-Isolation Information Sheet
