Can Your Employer Reduce Your Wages due to COVID-19?
To avoid mass lay-offs, many employers are reducing their employees’ wages without reducing their work hours. If you belong to this group of people, you must be feeling frustrated and confused – you are not alone. Generally, a reduction in your salary could constitute a constructive dismissal. A constructive dismissal is defined as a substantial… Read more »
Can COVID-19 testing be a condition to return to work?
With the prevalence of the virus in our community, many workplaces will be impacted by employees either testing positive for COVID-19 or being a close contact of a confirmed case. Nelligan Law gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Melanie Sutton, Student-at-law, in writing this blog post. As governments ease restrictions and businesses prepare to re-open, employers… Read more »
Use, Misuse and Disputes of a Power of Attorney during a pandemic
The exceptional circumstances of COVID-19 have raised numerous questions about the care and best interests of loved ones. In particular, the adherence to social distancing guidelines and issues related to COVID-19 outbreaks in long term care facilities have sparked disputes between family members who have differing points of view on the best care for elders… Read more »
Whoops! How to Repay a CERB Mistakenly Received
Did you apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (“CERB”) only to later realize that you did not qualify? This blog discusses how to promptly act to correct this error. The Canadian government has made it easy to repay the CERB. Individuals who realize they have received the CERB in error are strongly encouraged to… Read more »
Canada’s recently announced student benefit program – how will it work?
Nelligan Law gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Melanie Sutton, student-at-law, in writing this blog post. Over the past month, the federal government has provided financial assistance to many Canadians whose jobs and businesses have been affected by measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19. Now they are extending support to students, too. On April 22,… Read more »
COVID-19 Has Delayed My Surgery – What Now?
To prepare and respond to COVID-19, hospitals are pushing back elective surgeries. Pre-COVID-19, the Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa did 30-40 elective surgeries every day. Now, the hospital does 2-5 elective surgeries. Many people, especially cancer patients, are worried about how these delays will affect their health. What is an elective surgery? An elective surgery… Read more »