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COVID-19 FAQ

Last updated: May 12, 2020

This page has been archived. Some or all of this information is out of date and should not be referenced. Please contact your Supervisor if you have questions.

TOPIC – VACATION, SICK, LOA, TIME OFF

When will we get to use vacation again? How are staff supposed to take days off? For example, if my spouse works from home but needs me to watch the kids one day to actually get some work done. What can I do in this scenario?

To ensure we have as many staff as possible available to work, we had previously suspended all vacation time and leaves of absence until May 31st. We recognize that staff may need to take a day off here and there, to assist with childcare or to just have a break. We want to support that whenever we can. While you already have the option to do a shift swap with one of your co-workers at your location, you may also submit a single-day vacation request. We cannot guarantee that all single-day vacation requests can be accommodated due to staffing levels at your specific site, we will do our best to accommodate as many as we can. We will continue to monitor this change weekly.

Please see below correspondence previously sent March 27th from the HR manager.

Sick Time:
Article 18.01 a) of the CBA allows for paid sick time for full-time employees who are absent due to illness of the employee or where the employee must be absent because of illness or emergency of a member of their immediate family.  For part-time & relief employees, we follow the guidelines as set out by the Employment Standards Act (ESA), which is currently unpaid time off.
As requested by the medical community, we are not asking for Doctor’s notes at this time.    We may, however ask for other supplementary documentation when it is reasonable to do so (eg – a copy of the letter from Public Health directing you to self-isolate).

Vacation Time/Requests:
As per the CBA, vacation requests that were submitted by February 15, 2020 have been approved.  We are still working on finding coverage for some of those.  If you will not be needing that time off, please let the schedulers know as soon as possible.  Effective immediately, we will not be able to approve any further vacation time between the date of this memo and May 31, 2020.  We know that in the coming weeks it will be important to have all staff available to help cover the needs of the people we support.  We will honour approvals made to date. 
Employees may submit vacation requests for June 2020 & beyond; however, the immediate priority for schedulers is to focus on staffing needs related to the current state of emergency. 

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Unpaid Leave of Absence Requests (Article 18.07 in CBA):

In addition to our original answer below, we have a team that meets daily to discuss coverage needs and strategize about how best to align staff to working in the least amount of homes/programs as possible, including any needs for re-deployment among staffing.

Circumstances continue to impact staffing levels that are beyond our control.  An example of this is how some staff who work for other employers in addition to CLGW, may have received notice to select a single employer during this time.  Other factors continue to emerge and we anticipate the need to have direct support professionals, ready and able to work on site at our residential locations.  Similar to vacation requests, we will need to forego the approval of any personal leaves of absence during the period up to, and including May 31, 2020.  The only exception at this time will be for employees who received notice to choose between employers, as this is beyond their control.

For those already on a personal leave of absence, Human Resources may be contacting you to return to work if the need arises.  Employees who are non-symptomatic, have not recently travelled out of the country and have not come into close contact with a case of COVID-19 would be expected to return to work.

New Provincial and Federal Legislation related to Employment Insurance and ESA approved leaves:

On March 19, 2020, the Ontario Legislature met in an emergency session to pass legislation to provide more leave entitlements to employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Bill 186, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020, is an amendment of the previous Declared Emergency leave and added to it an Infectious Disease Emergency leave. 

On March 25, 2020, the federal Bill C-13, COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, received Royal Assent after swift passage by Parliament and the Senate. This federal legislation implements the Employment Insurance income support and other fiscal measures announced by the federal government on March 18, 2020.

We have provided the above links to these new pieces of legislation given that the funding landscape and eligibility requirements may change further during this period.

Employees who are not able to work as a result of COVID-19 may be able to apply for EI benefits if they qualify for any of the new leaves.  Information we’ve received to date confirms that those who have requested personal leaves as a preventative measure will not likely be eligible for EI benefits.  We encourage you to speak with an EI representative to ensure your eligibility.

TOPIC – SCHEDULES/TRAINING/POLICE RE: ESSENTIAL WORKER

What if my mandatory training expires during the COVID-19 pandemic?

There may be opportunities to attend some virtual trainings to meet the needs of those who have expired certifications.  Please review your training profile in Knonos so see which of your certifications may be expiring soon, then connect with your supervisor to see what possibilities are available for you.   

If this is not a possibility your training will be rescheduled in the future, when the emergency order has been lifted.  In the meantime you are still able to continue to work your scheduled shifts.

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Do I have to choose one employer? How are we limiting risk to DSP’s and PWS with regards to scheduling?

Yes. On April 24, an emergency order was enacted. This order supported congregate care setting employers to limit their staff to just one employer. If you haven’t already done so please notify CLGW HR if you work in a care setting other than CLGW.

In order to reduce risk within CLGW we have established staff teams that are only scheduled at one location.

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I’m a relief staff, how will I get my required shifts?

Relief are assigned to one home. Please see below April 16th communication from HR regarding shifts.

As we align staff to work in one program/site location, there will be a need to align Relief staff accordingly. If, as a Relief staff, you are assigned to a program and you are not receiving shift requests, please know that we will not be holding to the requirement to work a minimum of two direct support shifts in four consecutive pay periods. Alternatively, if as a Relief staff you are getting calls to assist for coverage, but are not accepting shifts, we still require you to work at least the minimum requirements, knowing that there is a need for coverage that must be filled.

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Are police randomly pulling people over to verify if you are an essential worker?

No.  The April 22 CLGW email addressed this concern:

Many of you have received a laminated card that can accompany your CLGW badge for when you do need to travel to and from work. However, as of this morning, Ontario Provincial Police are reporting that they are not conducting random traffic stops to verify being an essential worker. We also called Guelph Police Service, to determine if they are doing essential worker checks. GPS confirmed that they are not conducting random traffic stops either.

TOPIC: SERVICE/PEOPLE SUPPORTD

How is ODSP adapting its processes during the COVID-19 pandemic?

  • People supported do not need to submit their income statements at this time (unless they submit electronically)
  • Special Diet Allowances, already in play, will continue even if they are set to expire – people supported need not to worry about getting their signed forms in for now (unless they submit electronically)
  • MCCSS will not require forms and verification for Mandatory Special Necessities as we will issue these benefits and obtain what is needed later on (unless they submit electronically)

Are there funding resources and/or benefits available for people receiving ODSP?

(Please refer to the excerpt from MCCSS below) Please contact the PWS’s case manager directly to enquire about eligibility.

COVID-19 support for current social assistance clients

Ontario has made additional resources available to enable Ontario Works administrators and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) staff to provide additional assistance for those currently receiving social assistance, who are facing additional costs related to the COVID-19 outbreak. This funding can be used to meet a broad range of needs, for example: cleaning supplies, transportation, food or clothing that individuals and families may require due to COVID-19.

Ontario Works and ODSP recipients can access emergency benefits by calling their caseworker.
Emergency benefits for COVID-19 related expenses are the same for both programs: up to $100 for single individuals and up to $200 for families.

Social assistance treatment of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

We know these are unprecedented, and uncertain times, especially for individuals who are receiving social assistance from Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Recognizing the new federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is an income replacement program, it will be treated as such. Ontario will partially exempt income received under the CERB for OW and ODSP clients who were on the program prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. This approach enables existing clients to partially stack CERB and SA payments, and to continue to access health and other benefits while receiving CERB.

The following link is a plan language resource from Community Living Ontario regarding financial aid.

COVID19 Plain Language Financial Info 

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Can PWS go for leisurely drives?

Effective April 3rd leisure drives have been suspended.  The only exceptions granted will be if the person we support has a necessary appointment (i.e. a medical appointment), or if the Service Manager has provided written approval. Written approval will be granted only for exceptional circumstances, and will be granted based on a completed risk assessment by our Behavioural Therapist Team.

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Can a PWS go for a walk around their neighbourhood/backyard?

Yes to both. As the weather gets nicer, please enjoy spending time in the backyard and purchase any games, sporting goods that would help pass the time.

If you are accompanying someone you support during the walk please ensure you practice physical distancing (with each other as well as other community members). When you and the pws return home, make sure you both immediately was your hands.

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What if the person I support wants to go independently for a walk or is going into a grocery or a convenience store? 

We cannot prevent someone from going out in the community, any more than we are prevented from going out.  People supported are afforded the same rights & freedoms as we have.  What we can do is educate the people we support to understand the risks of going out and what the government has provided as guidance in terms of social distancing, avoiding large crowds etc.  Once they return home, we would encourage the person to wash their hands/use hand sanitizer.  In the event that they would resist the request to wash their hands, it would be the staffs’ responsibility to follow through with disinfecting the areas that person has touched.  Remember that we can always think up ways to be creative like saying, “hey I’m thinking I’m due to wash my hands anyways, so why don’t we do that together.  Do you want to go first, or me to go first?”  Additionally, for people supported who are resistant to practicing good hygiene habits, we can look to implement ideas like staggered meal times to minimize contact.

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What if the person is in isolation because of a confirmed or suspected case of COVID -19 and they leave their home and go out in their neighbourhood/community?

This is very serious as they may be spreading the virus.  Notify your Site Supervisor or the On call Supervisor immediately.  The Service Manger is required to notify the Public Health.  Police will also need to be called if the person needs to be located.

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I heard Passport has temporarily expanded the list of eligible expenses, where can I find out more information about this?

At this time, we’re gathering more information before we begin planning with the people we support. This expanded list is being reviewed by the Passport team, as well as Central West Region Passport Agency to better understand what all is eligible, and what may not be. We ask that you wait before planning or purchasing, and speak with the passport supervisor for any specific questions you might have regarding the person you are supporting and Passport. (Lisa McCartney for the rural area, and Linda Carol-Lyssy for the urban area.) To find the latest information please find the link to MCCSS re: passport.  MCCSS – Passport

TOPIC: PPE’S/SANITIZING INFO/ PRE-SCREENING

Do I have to wear a mask during my shift?

Yes. As part of the emergency order enacted on April 24, 2020, additional preventative measures and guidelines were rolled out in congregate care settings. This included the requirement of all Direct Support Professionals working within a residential setting, to wear a surgical/procedure mask at all times.

The supply will include one surgical mask per staff member, per shift. An additional mask per staff, per shift will also be supplied, in the event the first becomes soiled. Containers will also be supplied to appropriately store an in-use mask while eating, drinking, or taking a mask-free break.

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How do I sanitize a vehicle?

SA04c – COVID-19 Passenger Vehicle Disinfecting Protocol is available here.

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When do I complete the pre-screening checklist?

You complete the pre-screen checklist before your shift (prior to coming on site) and at the end of your shift just before you clock out of Kronos.

If you do not have a thermometer, you are expected to continue to try and purchase one, or borrow one from someone you know that is healthy and not in need of it. 

It is preferred that you complete the online version of the pre-screen, however a paper copy is available if you do not have internet access at the time of the screening.

Screening Checklist Online or Paper copy

TOPIC – WELLNESS

I am experiencing a lot of anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  What resources are available to me?

There are many resources that employees can choose from.

  • CMHA also has great resources for Direct Support Professionals.