If you thought your new arrangement was a licence to slack off, think again. "Productivity is good.". The company's chief operating officer, Jackson Fregeau, says Revenue Accelerator signed with Hubstaff close to a year ago but has found it to be even more valuable during the pandemic. Its team of 25 employees helps other companies, mostly in the technology field, find and develop sales leads. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Bosses can use a "dashboard" that shows data about individual workers, including their screen time, the activity of their computer mouse, shots of what's on an employee's screen at any given time, and in some cases, even their physical location via GPS. Under New York's convenience of the employer rule, the employer is required to withhold New York state income tax from all wages paid to the employee if (1) the employee spent at least one day in the year in New York and (2) the reason the employee is working from home outside of the state is for the employee's own convenience. "The non-unionized workplace has less control, because generally, the employer is able to institute policies that they think are appropriate, and employees have limited ability to refuse reasonable practices.". Unfortunately, if you are working from home as a W-2 employee ― that is, your wages are paid through payroll and your employer withholds taxes ― there’s not much you can claim on your tax return, according to Christina Taylor, head of operations at Credit Karma Tax. "I think the world has become aware that when you work from home, you can be productive, and the workforce is going to want that," he said. Then that person would need to be paid compensation, which could be as low as three months salary.". Nevogt said 550 Canadian firms have signed up for a free trial in that time, and 79 have already purchased Hubstaff software. Kitchen tables and coffee tables are not options. To have a better experience, you need to: Le site Ontario.ca exige JavaScript pour fonctionner comme il faut, avec rapidité et stabilité. "Because the employer is allowed to say, 'We're going to let you go.' Miami-based Teramind said "customer interest" globally is three times normal levels but didn't have Canadian figures available. "We used to measure their performance by results — the number of meetings booked — but now, potential customers aren't responding the way they used to, and we have to measure against the time the team is putting in, even if it's not producing a result.". ", Would Enbridge consider more closely monitoring employees? 4. With more people working from home, the question of deducting home expenses often arises. The Eight Rules to Follow for Working at Home Cover the Essentials. Heads up, Canadians working from home. They’ll be happier. And the decision to work at home should be a choice. Heads up, Canadians working from home. "We're very proud of how our teams have adjusted," said Tanya Mushynski, vice-president of customer care for the Ontario division of Enbridge Gas. He says there are no Canadian laws against an employer instituting such a system, as long as employees are fully informed about how the system works. For example, hand, wrist and arm problems are common in office workers. Eligibility. Stay at home except for essential travel and follow the restrictions and public health measures. A work from home policy is nothing but an agreement between the employer and the employees who prefer to have the work from home privileges. Fregeau said the software provides an alternate way to measure productivity. 2. By allowing such employees to work from home, you let them continue their career and you continue to benefit from their expertise. Be clear on employee priorities, focusing on the expectations, … When making an employee handbook outline, it is essential for you to include the employee work rules in the content of the document.Having a clear list of the policies and regulations that you would like to fully implement can help your employees align their behavior and performance with the goals, expectations and objectives of the company. Home office facilities must be adequate. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Add some “good” to your morning and evening. Everyone seems to be talking about work-life balance these days, and there’s no … Companies pay between $7 and $10 US per month for each employee on the system. What employers should do . 2. Comfort While business casual has become the norm in many industries, people are still not encouraged to go to work in their pajamas. Pour avoir une meilleure expérience, vous devez : You are using an outdated browser that is no longer supported by Ontario.ca. The new rules are supposed to protect employees from losing their jobs if they are unable to work due to the pandemic, said Heath. Where possible, workers should work from home. Deductions reduce the amount of income you pay tax on, so they reduce your overall income tax liability. However, one of the perks of working from home is that, as long as the work gets done, many employers don’t care when you do it. Demand remains high from new customers all over the world, Nevogt said. "In a normal month, we might have 5,000 trials starting; now, we're around 15,000," he said. First, companies need to determine what positions are eligible to work remotely, and state … "Unionized workers have more control over the privacy aspects of their workplaces," he said. Employers should assess the workplace in consultation with the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative. "And the owner is more likely to say I can save costs on my office building with fewer employees there.". The ability to satisfy and retain your staff can, over time, reduce recruiting and training expenses and add further to your bottom line. Restez chez vous sauf pour les déplacements essentiels et respectez les restrictions et les mesures de santé publique. Child care is needed, along with a separate room for working. Bloom has had his own mishaps, as well. She was making the call from her bathroom.". Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Post signs encouraging good respiratory hygiene, hand … Revenue Accelerator of Vancouver is a company that uses Hubstaff's services. He sees the work-from-home trend exploding in the years ahead. 1. Review the five minute online e-learning guide, Preventing Strain Injuries at Your Computer Workstati… Increase communication to staff and your customers about COVID-19 and measures you are taking for prevention. Implement Work-From-Home Rules. But, with the nature of coronavirus, there are a few extra things to keep in mind. Some employers, however, say that their experience during the COVID-19 crisis has shown that working from home can be a great success — even without a monitoring service such as Hubstaff or Teramind. "So, we can very easily say they are as productive as they have been previously. Comments are welcome while open. Permitting or requiring employees to work from home (“WFH”) where possible can reduce health and safety risks associated with the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, enable employees who are self-isolating or in quarantine to productively contribute to the business and enable greater flexibility for employees who need to care for family members in connection with the spread of COVID-19. A number of factors are important for optimum performance at home, says Nicholas Bloom, a professor at Stanford University in California whose research has shown productivity can improve when workers aren't in the office. Updated: 12 Jan 2021, 02:26 PM IST Tapati Ghose, Poornima G. … Under the Health and Safety at Work Act employers still have an obligation to ensure staff are working safely and in ways that does not jeopardise their health – even from home – but both the employer and employee have responsibilities, says Deb Tweedy, head of employment and HR law at Gordon Brown Law Firm. "Some people would prefer to be monitored than face a layoff," he said. Dianne Buckner has reported on entrepreneurs for two decades. Without proper ergonomics, remote employees are at risk of developing health problems over time. Identify a workplace coordinator who will be responsible for … Coronavirus work-from-home policies give climate plans a boost, Working from home? There might be a need for ongoing changes to working arrangements during the... Pay and terms and conditions. "On the one hand, it feels spooky and creepy that we're being monitored, but oddly enough, it may be liberating," he said. Employers are required to develop a COVID-19 Safety Plan that outlines the policies, guidelines, and procedures they have put in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Focus on performance and results. En savoir plus sur les navigateurs que nous supportons. But not everyone is a fan of pandemic productivity. "I don't know that we've seen a need for it," said Mushynski. We need to know what people are working on. Here are 7 simple rules for companies who engage work-at-home employees or contractors: 1. Set regular working hours. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, more of us have been getting used to working from home. "If you're managing projects and you're used to managing somebody by looking over their shoulder and that person is right there, and then all of the sudden they're not, how do you get that control in place?". Post signs asking ill clients or customers to stay away from the workplace. Working from home You may be able to claim tax relief for additional household costs if you have to work at home on a regular basis, either for all or part of the week. Of the company's 3,600 employees in Ontario, close to 2,400 are working from home. Okay, so you can treat the situation as a normal remote working situation. "In terms of the contact centre employees, we have a number of metrics that we track on the work they do, the number of calls they handle, etc.," said Mushynski. Even longtime proponents of work-from-home arrangements say current conditions are far from ideal. The company said it's unable to release sales figures or identify customers, citing non-disclosure agreements. Your Work From Home Policy should clearly state when employees are expected to work, and when they should call it a day. ActivTrak, Teramind, Hubstaff and Time Doctor are some of the U.S.-based companies that provide employee monitoring software. It also clarified that the $500 reimbursement amount is the maximum for each employee, rather than for each piece of computer or office equipment that an employee may purchase. Déclaration de situation d’urgence en vigueur. Learn about the browsers we support. In assessing whether you should be working from home, your employer must take into account that vulnerable people are, or are likely to be, at higher risk of serious illness if they contract COVID-19. Twitter said Tuesday it will allow its employees to keep working from home indefinitely, and Waterloo, Ont.-based OpenText Corp., the largest software company in Canada, said it was permanently closing half of its offices and would have some staff continue to work from home after the lockdown lifts. As an employer, you probably supply your in-office workers with high-quality ergonomic furniture and supplies. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. En savoir plus sur les navigateurs que nous supportons. A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you. "If the employee says no, however, what happens then?" "We're breaking all the rules with COVID," he said, working from a bedroom in his California home. "If you want to be home and your boss is quite skeptical that you're goofing off, you may want to show that you're doing well.". To support this practice, WorkSafeBC would like to share the following guidance on employer and worker responsibilities for ensuring their workspace is healthy and safe. Without a wrist rest, mouse or correctly adjusted work station, they are even more at risk of carpal tunn… Everyone's work-from-home schedule looks different. "It's typically those customers that bill by the hour, and they need the justification of how many hours are actually being worked, so how many hours spent on Client A versus Client B, for invoicing," he said. Dave Nevogt of Hubstaff says most of his clients are business owners with between 10 and 100 employees, and they're not always focused on snooping. Heads up, Canadians who are working from home. A laptop alone is not enough; have a separate keyboard or monitor connected to the laptop to arrange for proper monitor height and keyboard position. You can make the payment of €3.20 per workday tax free when: there is a formal agreement between you and your employee that the employee is required to work from home your employee is required to perform essential duties of the employment at home your employee is required to work for substantial periods at home. Les navigateurs désuets ne disposent pas de caractéristiques sécuritaires permettant d’assurer la sécurité de vos renseignements. A spokesperson said there's been a 35 per cent increase in demand for information and product demos from Canada since the pandemic began but wouldn't cite specific sales figures. An expectations gap is opening between bosses and staff over the future of remote work as major companies say only 40 per cent of employees will be able to operate from home in future. Stay in touch as much as possible. One of his four children burst into the room where he was on a conference call, shouting their nickname for him, Doodoo. This deduction is claimed on your personal income tax return. He says trying to work with young children around is a "productivity disaster." It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. You should: Pay your staff as you normally do. Andrew Monkhouse, an employment lawyer in Toronto, works with small- and medium-sized businesses and often represents employees in disputes. But longer term, with proper conditions, he sees the trend rising. If you thought your new arrangement was a licence to slack off, or make a little less effort — think again. A dedicated workspace should have furnishings appropriate to the nature of the work. Photo: iStock Work from home: FM Sitharaman needs to relook at income tax rules 3 min read. Establish policies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and make sure these are communicated and understood by employees: 1. The current rules require anyone claiming the deduction to get their employer to fill out a form — T2200 — certifying that working from home is a condition of employment. While maintenance, emergency response and construction teams continue to work in the field, those with desk jobs in billing, regulatory affairs, engineering and other departments have shifted to their homes. Vulnerable people include: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions Outdated browsers lack safety features that keep your information secure, and they can also be slow. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. "The stigma of working at home — sometimes called shirking from home — will be gone, post-COVID," he said. restrictions et les mesures de santé publique. "That has disappeared in just two months.". Check your insurance policy, Telework wherever and whenever possible, federal public servants told, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. "We need to be holding people accountable. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. And I think it helps people stay more focused as well.". Refusing to let employees work from home at … Ontario.ca needs JavaScript to function properly and provide you with a fast, stable experience. Employers must involve frontline workers, joint health and safety committees, and supervisors in identifying protocols for their workplace. Even Stanford's Bloom says he sees an upside to monitoring services for some employees. She hosts Dragons' Den on CBC Television and is part of the business news team at CBC News Network. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Employers are asked to consider having workers work remotely (e.g., work at home) where practicable, as part of efforts to slow the progression of COVID-19 (coronavirus) through social distancing. The boom in people doing their jobs off site during the COVID-19 lockdown has led to rising interest in services that help employers remotely monitor their workers' productivity. Austin, Texas-based ActivTrak says the company has seen a spike in customer inquiries. And in Indianapolis, Hubstaff co-founder Dave Nevogt said his company's website has had 7,000 visitors from Canada since the start of March, according to Google Analytics — a 15 per cent increase from before the pandemic. The boom in people doing their jobs off site during the COVID-19 lockdown has led to rising interest in services that help employers remotely monitor their workers' productivity. "I had a call recently with one of my co-workers, and I could see her toothbrush in the background in the corner. Deductions for Employees The CRA allows you to deduct certain home expenses for Use the risk-informed decision-making guidelines for workplaces/businessesduring the COVID-19 pandemic. Making working from home arrangements Deciding on working from home arrangements. You must have a suitable, ergonomically adjustable chair that allows for neutral postures. Remote work expenses traditionally have not been reimbursable under California law because telecommuting and remote work opportunities are not mandated by the employer, as many companies have optional work-from-home programs that are at the employees' convenience, and such employees continue to have the option to work in their employer's office and use company equipment and … Bank of Montreal has announced it intends to allow 30 to 80 per cent of its 45,000 staff members to consider a blend of work from home and time in the office once the lockdown ends. Vous utilisez un navigateur désuet qui n’est plus accepté par Ontario.ca. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). But there's also no law requiring employees to agree to having their work monitored at home. If you thought your new arrangement was a licence to slack off, think again. Lawyer Andrew Monkhouse says there could be tough choices ahead, though, at workplaces that do opt for increased observation of work habits. Maintain Healthy Business Operations. As an employee, you may be able to claim certain home office expenses (work-space-in-the-home expenses, office supplies, and certain phone expenses). Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Employers must assess the workplace to determine what they need to do to protect the health and safety of their workers. This means that employers must conduct risk assessments of all the work activities carried out by employees, including those working from home. "We had half of our company working remotely before this, and since COVID, now everybody is remote," he said. Factors to Consider When Making Employee Work Rules. At the roundtable, the CRA announced that it was extending its administrative position to employer reimbursements for home office equipment purchased by employees. Work from home is a growing trend in today’s work environment, in which employees can easily plug-in from just anywhere they are. Employer rules for working from home during coronavirus. The Canada Revenue Agency has restrictions and guidelines on what is allowed to be deducted, starting with determining whether you are an employee or if you are self-employed. This plan follows the six steps outlined below. "The kids thing is really hard," he said. Accéder aux paramètres de votre navigateur. 3. 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