COVID-19 Resources for Businesses

Essential businesses and services that require workers to physically come into the workplace are encouraged to put the following measures into place to safeguard the wellbeing of employees and volunteers:

• Review guidance from relevant industry associations (external link) to determine the steps workers need to take in your workplace.
• Implement physical distancing (maintaining 2 metres/6 feet from other workers) by allowing staff to:
  • work from home, if possible;
  • participate in virtual meetings rather than meeting in person; and
  • work flexible hours, stagger start times and breaks, or stagger days they work in the workplace.
• When physical distancing cannot be maintained, employers may implement the use of face coverings (non-medical masks).
• If personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided by the employer, employees must be trained on the safe use, care and limitations of PPE, including putting on and taking off PPE (external PDF) as well as proper disposal.
• Post signage to alert workers of any signs and symptoms of COVID-19
• Display posters promoting hand-washing and respiratory hygiene
• Make alcohol-based hand sanitizers with greater than 60% alcohol available throughout your facility.
• Increase the frequency of environmental cleaning for all common areas and frequently touched surfaces. 
• Ensure that cleaning supplies are available for employees to clean and disinfect their workspaces.
• Encourage staff to:
  • Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 (see Symptoms and treatment tab on this webpage).
  • Use Ontario's online self-assessment tool (external link) if they have symptoms.
  • Self-isolate (external link) immediately if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19 (see to the Self-isolation tab on halton.ca/COVID19 webpage).
  • Follow the health tips under the Protect yourself and others tab.

• Non-essential businesses will remain closed until June 9, 2020 as an Emergency Order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
• The Government of Ontario has allowed the reopening of some non-essential businesses. Refer to the Current situation section for the latest information.
• Refer to the Government of Ontario’s website for a listing of essential workplaces (external link)).
• Where possible, businesses are encouraged to provide staff with necessary accommodations to work from home so operations can continue.
• Businesses can call the Stop the Spread Information Line at 1-888-444-3659 with any questions about impacts to your business or employment.

The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging all aspects of our lives and as an employer, there are steps you can take to support your employee's health and well-being during this difficult time.

• Develop a contingency or business continuity plan that outlines how your business will operate if a significant number of employees, contractors or other suppliers cannot come to your place of business.
• Provide regular communication to your employees regarding steps your workplace is taking to prepare for/adapt to the pandemic including their expected roles.
• Offer flexible work options (including working remotely) to staff where possible.
• Consider reviewing sick leave policies for employees who are ill.
• Promote your Employee Assistance Program if your employees need additional support.
• Promote local mental health supports in Halton.

Employers can visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's Preventing COVID-19 in the workplace: Employers, employees and essential service workers page for further information.

If an employee is confirmed positive for COVID-19, the following steps should occur:

• Employers are not required to report their employees to Halton Region Public Health. Confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 are reported by health care providers and laboratories to public health departments.  
• Employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate at home for 14 days (see Self-isolation tab on halton.ca/COVID19 webpage).
• Surfaces that were touched by the ill employee should be disinfected (external PDF) as soon as possible.
• The employee will be asked to inform their employer that they have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. Halton Region Public Health will contact the employee to provide guidance, identify close contacts and perform a risk assessment for all exposures that may have occurred in the workplace. 
• Halton Region Public Health will work closely with the employee who tested positive to identify all close contacts at work while the case was infectious including: clients, vendors or third-parties. Public Health may contact the employer to assist with identifying close contacts in the workplace as required. Individuals that have had close contact (spent extensive time within 2-metre radius) with the employee may need to take additional precautions, such as self-monitoring for symptoms or self-isolation.
• If close contacts have been identified and the employee does not have their contact information, the employer will be asked to provide contact information for these individuals. Halton Region Public Health will follow-up with each of these individuals accordingly.
• In some situations, employers may be directed by Public Health to notify all staff who worked during the exposure dates of their potential risk of infection as directed by Public Health. When notifying staff, employers must maintain confidentiality and not identify the name of the employee who was confirmed positive for COVID-19. In this communication, employers should consider explaining the actions that will be taken to protect the ongoing health and safety of employees (for example, cleaning and disinfection of the workplace).
• Halton Region Public Health monitors individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their close contacts. Public Health will advise these individuals when it is safe for them to return to work.
• If an employee experiences an occupational illness (from exposure at the workplace) OR files a claim with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (external link), employers are required to provide written notice within four days of learning of the illness to:
  • The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (external link);
  • the organization’s joint health and safety committee (or a health and safety representative); and
  • the trade union (if applicable).

• Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) (external link): Provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks.
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) (external link): Subsidy of 75 per cent of employee wages for up to 12 weeks (includes a wage calculator).
• Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) (external link): Loans to cover non-deferrable operating costs.
• Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) (external link): Through this program, Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) provide direct lending and other types of financial support.
• Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (OCECRA) (external link): The OCECRA will provide forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners experiencing potential rent shortfalls because their small business tenants have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

• Halton Small Business Centre: Provides virtual support services and programs to new and existing small businesses in Halton.
• Halton Global Business Centre: Helping small to medium sized businesses scale up and go global.