One of the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is that many organizations have embraced a hybrid or fully remote work arrangement.  The attached cross-Canada guide, prepared by the Canadian law firm members of the Employment Law Alliance, and our colleagues at Thorsteinssons LLP (tax lawyers), provides a practical overview of select employment, labour-related, and tax considerations for employers with remote workers residing in a province, even if the employer has no office or other corporate presence in that province.

Effective December 18, 2022, anyone who qualifies for a new Employment Insurance (“EI”) sickness benefit claim will be entitled to up to 26 weeks of benefits. At present, the current maximum period is 15 weeks. Employers may wish to reach out to their insurer to determine whether the extension of the EI sickness benefit claim period will impact their current STD and LTD programs.