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• Use good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available
• Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

Insider has compiled a guide explaining when you should practice social distancing, self-isolation, or quarantine, and what each of those terms entail.

A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.

• Individuals who do not feel well or have cold or flu like symptoms should stay home and notify their supervisor and BOWEN contact
• Individuals returning to Canada from any international travel on or as of March 12 should inform their supervisor and BOWEN contact and self-isolate
• Individuals returning from a cruise ship or current hot spots such as China, Italy or Iran prior to March 12 should inform their supervisor and BOWEN contact and self-isolate
• Individuals who have been in contact with someone who is suspected of having or confirmed to have Coronavirus should inform their supervisor and BOWEN contact and self-isolate
• Individuals with any future international travel arrangements should notify their supervisor and BOWEN contact of these plans

Please follow the below steps to assist in the correct course of action:

1. Identify the potential of your job to be completed from home with your supervisor. If this is a possibility, please notify your BOWEN Group contact to inform them of your working from home circumstances.
2. If the nature of your job does not allow for you to work from home, please see the below questions to assess your eligibility for EI.

Eligible workers with no or limited paid-leave benefits through their employers can apply for up to 15 weeks of employment insurance if they cannot work for medical reasons such as cancer, a broken leg, or in this case, being quarantined in a public-health threat. Read more here.

Normally, a worker who qualifies for the benefits has a one-week waiting period before payments start, so if you’re in quarantine for two weeks you’d only get sickness benefits for one of those weeks. 

For people in quarantine due to COVID-19, the government is eliminating the waiting period entirely, so you can get EI benefits for an entire 14-day quarantine. 

BOWEN Group will issue a Record of Employment (ROE) as soon as possible so you can obtain EI quickly. Email [email protected]  with the subject line “ROE COVID-19” to request your ROE. Please include your last day of work and ensure your hours are submitted and approved in your request. 

Apply for EI on the Government of Canada website here. The 5 easy steps and required documents to apply are also listed here to help you complete your application. 

BOWEN Group will issue you a Record of Employment (ROE) as soon as possible so you can obtain EI quickly. Email [email protected] with the subject line “ROE COVID-19” to request your ROE. Please include your last day of work and ensure your hours are submitted and approved in your request. 

For Canadians without paid sick leave (or similar workplace accommodation) who are sick, quarantined or forced to stay home to care for children, the Government is introducing the Emergency Care Benefit providing up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. This flat-payment Benefit would be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provide income support to:

• • Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.
  • Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, such as an elderly parent, but do not quality for EI sickness benefits.
  • Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI or not.

Application for the Benefit will be available in April 2020, and require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to re-attest every two weeks to reconfirm their eligibility. Canadians can apply for the benefit on their CRA MYAccount, My Service Canada Account or call the government toll free at 1-800-531-7555. 

If you feel sick, notify your supervisor and BOWEN Group Assignment Manager. Please do not report to work, or if at work, please go home and seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you test positive for Coronavirus, stay in quarantine until you have recovered and have been medically cleared to return to work. Your BOWEN Group Assignment Manager will inform your supervisor when you are able to return to work. 

If you believe you have been exposed to someone at the office or on the field who has tested positive for Coronavirus, please notify your supervisor and BOWEN Group Assignment Manager immediately and we will provide further guidance. 

Do not report to your office or work site if you have tested positive. Notify your supervisor and BOWEN Group Assignment Manager immediately and we will provide further guidance. 

As a general rule, group insurance policies will treat illness due to Coronavirus as any other medical emergency.
There is no exclusion related to the Coronavirus epidemic versus another type of medical emergency. Always refer to your employee handbook for standard conditions and exclusions.

Group insurance coverage generally contains a condition that excludes expenses incurred in a country or region where the Government of Canada has posted a travel advisory.

This exclusion does not apply to plan members already present in the location at the time the Government of Canada issues a travel advisory, provided they then take the necessary measures to comply with the advisory as soon as possible.

Those plan members who qualify for out-of-country coverage and experience significant time in quarantine should expect to receive coverage throughout, up to the limits of their policy as set out in their benefits handbook.

Yes. In light of the rapidly advancing Coronavirus outbreak and recommendations from the Government of Canada, BOWEN Group has made the decision to move face-to-face meetings, including interviews and testing, online until further notice. Only core teams are onsite at BOWEN Group’s office as we strive to keep as many interactions virtual as possible. 

EI is the federal unemployment insurance program in Canada that provides temporary financial assistance. You’re probably eligible for EI if you paid into the employment insurance program, have been out of work for at least seven days in a row, and have worked the minimum number of hours (between 420 and 700 depending on where you live). 

CERB is the newly streamlined Canada emergency benefit for people who don’t qualify for EI or choose this option instead. The emergency benefit is for anyone whose work is affected by COVID-19. If you’ve been laid off, are sick, quarantined, taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, or are a working parent who needs to stay home without pay to take care of kids who are sick or home because school or daycare is closed. CERB was designed for people who don’t qualify for EI but need help, including part-time employees, gig workers, and freelancers.

Read more on the difference between EI and CERB here.