How Ontario’s Second Lockdown Will Impact Employment

Job placement agency Brampton | Nova Staffing

Ontario has recently once again moved into lockdown to help stop the spread of COVID-19. While Toronto has seen some level of restrictions since the virus first hit the city, this will be a major blow for other parts of the province that have seen more freedom. One of the big questions employment agencies have been getting is how the second lockdown will impact employment and hiring. Here are a few things companies should get ready for.

 

More Remote Working

Get ready to see remote working reach new levels. One of the biggest things coming with the latest lockdown is that all non-essential employees who do not need to be in the workspace physically will now be required to work from home. That means employers who have adopted a hybrid work-from-home model or asked employees to return to offices will now have to embrace remote working again.

 

Back to Virtual Schooling

Working parents that chose to send their kids back to physical school will now have to get ready for virtual schooling once again. Employers should support parents during this time and try to understand that working parents now have to be employees, parents, and teachers. It’s a lot for anyone! Try to be more flexible with work hours and understanding if an issue arises.

 

Safety Plans

While remote working will increase once again with the lockdown, not all businesses will be impacted. There are still a number of industries, such as transportation, essential workers, and more, that will still have to go in. Ontario is requiring all businesses that are still open and operating to prepare a COVID-19 safety plan. Companies that are remote working should also take this time to come up with a safety plan for when employees do return again. Now is also a good time to evaluate sick day policies in light of the virus.

 

Final Thoughts

It’s still too early to know how the second lockdown will impact employment growth in the province. As with the first round of restrictions, certain industries will be hit harder than others. Employers should do everything they can to support employees during this time in order to boost efficiency and morale.

 

If you need help fulfilling job positions with quality candidates, contact us today! Nova Staffing is one of Toronto’s best employment agencies and has a team of HR experts ready to help you with all of your staffing needs.

 

Is the Holiday Hiring Freeze Real?

Job placement agency Brampton | Nova Staffing

Suppose you’re looking for a new job or looking to fill a position. In that case, chances are you’ve heard about the holiday hiring freeze- that period from November to December when companies supposedly stop hiring, and job applicants dry up. It seems as if both sides, those looking to hire and those looking for jobs, buy into the myth of the holiday hiring freeze. This has resulted in it becoming something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, is it even worth it for businesses and jobseekers to look during the holiday season? Here’s what our staffing experts at Nova Staffing have to say about it.

 

Slowdown, Not a Freeze

We often get companies and applicants reaching out to us around this time asking, is the holiday hiring freeze real? And the answer is sort of. The truth is that there is a seasonal slowdown, but it’s not an outright freeze. Career coaches and companies have been told about the holiday hiring freeze for decades to the point that it’s become somewhat true. Jobseekers now assume companies don’t hire at this time, and companies assume that applicants aren’t looking. Many businesses out there are still looking to hire both full time and temporary staff, and those out of work are always eager to rejoin the workforce, especially this year.

 

Holiday Rush

People believe in the holiday hiring freeze because they assume businesses are too busy with the holiday rush to onboard new employees before the holidays. This is true for many companies. Many of our clients that use our employment agency ask us to freeze hiring around the holidays as it’s the busiest season of the year for them. Instead, if they need additional help or need to fulfill positions, they may opt for temporary staffing solutions like seasonal holiday workers. That doesn’t mean it’s true for every company, though! Many out there don’t experience a seasonal rush and are eager to fill positions before starting the New Year.

 

End of Year Books

Part of the holiday rush is reconciling the end-of-year books before the New Year. As a hiring agency, we know that many companies are forced to put off hiring until January because they simply don’t have the budget left. This doesn’t mean that businesses stop looking for new hires completely, though! Many companies still keep their eyes out for talent by reading resumes and taking interviews. In other words, just because a company doesn’t have the budget to hire you until January doesn’t mean they aren’t looking now.

 

Temporary Staffing Solutions

Another common belief is that businesses prioritize funds to hire temporary holiday staff during the holiday to help with the extra workload. This results in applicants drying up because they assume they’ll only be hired for seasonal work. The reality is that businesses the rely on seasonal temp staffing already have that budgeted and worked out ahead of time. As a temp staffing agency, we encourage both companies and jobseekers to rethink how they view temporary staffing. These workers aren’t disposable, and many companies end up retaining quality workers by hiring full-time. Temp staffing solutions can provide tons of long-term benefits and may even become a company’s greatest asset.

 

Final Thoughts

So, is the holiday hiring freeze real? Our HR experts say no! While there is a seasonal slowdown in November and December, a lot of it has to do with both sides buying into outdated misconceptions. There are still tons of hiring opportunities out there during the holiday season.

 

If you’re looking to fulfill positions with quality candidates or are a job seeker looking for a lucrative job, contact Nova Staffing today! We’re one of the best employment agencies in Toronto and have a team of HR experts ready to help you.

 

Public Holidays in Ontario Employers Should Know About

Job placement agency Brampton | Nova Staffing

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and employers might soon have workers asking them which days they get off. There are nine official public holidays in Ontario, in which employees are either entitled to take off or receive paid public holiday pay. Employers can offer additional days off, but here are the public holidays that workers are entitled to have off.

 

Public Holidays

Public holidays, also known as statutory holidays or stat holidays, are national, cultural, and religious holidays that Canada’s government has determined people should be off of work. Some of these vary by province, but in Ontario, there are nine recognized public holidays.

 

  • New Year’s Day (Jan 1)
  • Family Day (Third Monday in Feb.)
  • Good Friday (Friday before Easter)
  • Victoria Day (Second to last Monday in May)
  • Canada Day (July 1)
  • Labour Day (First Monday of Sept)
  • Thanksgiving Day (Second Monday of October)
  • Christmas Day (Dec 25)
  • Boxing Day (Dec 26)

 

Additional Holidays

In addition to the nine official holidays, the country celebrates a few extra holidays. On these days, the majority of businesses close down, and many employers opt to give employees the day off, however, it is not required.

 

These include:

  • Remembrance Day (Nov 11)
  • Civic holiday (First Monday of Aug)
  • Easter Monday (Monday after Easter)

 

Holiday Pay

Not all businesses are able to close down for holidays. When employees are required to work on public holidays, most are eligible for public holiday pay. Employers are responsible for ensuring they are calculating and paying the appropriate amount of holiday pay. Some industries and employees are exempt from holiday pay, and companies should know if their workers are or not.

 

Substitute Holiday

If a business is open only on Monday to Friday and a holiday falls on a weekend, then employers are required to provide an additional day off still. In Ontario, the substitute holiday can be observed either the day before or after the public holiday.

 

Alternatively, if an employee and employer both agree, instead of receiving the public holiday off or accepting public holiday pay, an employee can take a substitute holiday. This is when workers accept another working day off that is designed to replace a public holiday.

 

Have more questions about employment or looking for staffing solutions? Contact us today! Our team of HR experts at Nova Staffing is happy to help you with all of your employment needs.