Covid19

The unfolding COVID-19 crisis poses unparalleled challenges for individuals, households, and firms. The highest priority is preventing the pandemic and protecting citizens. But fragmented supply chains, stabilization policies that restrict economic and social connections and declining demand have placed employment and livelihoods in jeopardy for people. An immediate response in terms of employment and social policy is required.

COVID-19 continues to have an enormous effect on workplaces contributing to unknown workplace implications. Everyone is affected by the Shelter in Place order, and routines have been wholly disrupted. This poses several challenges for companies, especially those who are forced to temporarily close their doors before orders for the Shelter in Place are lifted.

Considering the ongoing economic pressures, either as a result of voluntary or forced organizational shutdowns, many companies are introducing temporary layoffs, or at least considering them. Hearing employers talk about “laying off” workers isn’t unusual, particularly when business is slow. The employer ‘s purpose in such cases is not to terminate the employment arrangement, but to make use of temporary layoffs before business picks up.

Although a temporary layoff is a perfectly reasonable option for coping with a slowdown in the industry, many employers are unaware that temporary layoffs are not allowed under the Job Standards Act except under extremely specific circumstances.

The Employment Standards Act (British Columbia) allows an employer to temporarily terminate an employee in the following circumstances:

• This is explicitly authorized by the contract of the employee.
• The employer is in an enterprise where temporary layoffs are common practice across the industry. Work can not be carried out during the “break-up” season, for example, in logging.
• The employee agrees to immediate redundancy

Where temporary layoffs are permitted, the maximum length of time an employee can be laid off is 13 weeks over a 20-week consecutive period. The period of 20 weeks commences on the first day of the layoff.

When every week that comes during the 20-week period an employee receives less than 50 percent of his or her daily pay, the week will also count against the 13-week span.

Because of the pandemic, there are plenty of businesses that are getting shut off while some are still operating. Among those companies that still operate during COVID – 19, the construction sector is the one. In most cases, companies ensure that they will survive during the global COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the effects of which have already been felt in the construction sector. For certain businesses such as the construction industry, at this point, the use of resources from a temporary staffing agency may be the best option. While many clients maintain staff for long-term and permanent jobs, temporary employees could be the best solution to maintain a sufficient workforce during times like these. True North Labour is the British Columbia construction staffing agency that provides skilled construction workers upon your request. cc We have a dedicated team to help builders and provide them with a well-trained workforce. Enable extra staff when they’re needed. In an emergency call us or whenever you plan a project. Whether it’s about a week or a year, consolidate your worksite with qualified and screened True North Labour workers for the duration of your project. We think you need the right people to get the job done right. TNL provides you with short-term, high-volume, seasonal, and exclusive contract solutions. We can also provide project-based assistance to tradesmen with the option of recruiting the workers as permanent staff.

At True North Labour, it is very important to us to have temporary construction work agency clients and to be a safe platform for workers. We have developed high-standard protocols to mitigate COVID 19 risk, spreading among the workforce. Our highest priority  @truenorthlabour, as a provider of daily construction labor services, is the health of both our customers and our employees. We have been following the rapid development of the COVID19 situation and we would like to address some health and safety measures that have been put in place to ensure the safety of all.

There is no doubt that we are living in these unsettling times. Coronavirus has brought chaos to organizations across the globe leaving many workers uncertain about their jobs. This is where the temporary staffing agency can lend great help to mitigate this issue. As employers consider the possibility of temporarily laying off their employees because of a substantial decline in business resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, they should ensure that they do so in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which their business operates.

Construction Project; There has been a significant increase in demand for construction workers in Canada since past few years, however the right workforce is not available for most of the construction projects. This gap of skills vs requirements is getting increased day by day and putting pressure on the hiring people of construction companies. During the times of pandemics and other global recessions such as COVID – 19, construction  labours need more regulations in terms of safety and procedures ; which has created a gap for the training the workforce to work during such pandemics. 

A right staffing strategy is very important for successful completion of a construction project. The workers are considered to be the biggest asset for a project and they can give a competitive edge to the business and help the company in growing its bottom line. These workers have to take care of the construction procedures, need to handle equipment as well as to make sure the safety of the workplace. This applies not only to laborers but to supervisors and senior managers as well, so in the construction sector it is very significant to have a well trained workforce beforehand to start a construction project. 

A well trained workforce which can finish the project on time effectively is a great asset for a construction company. In the construction sector the success of a project is determined on the basis of it’s timely completion as well as through effective communication between the construction company and the client. So it needs to have not only well trained construction labours but also well experienced and effective communicators at levels of supervisors and senior managers. An on time and well delivered project by a construction company is a great source of bringing new business through referrals. So it is vital to have the most skilled and well trained workforce ranging from architects to a labourer.

But on the other side construction staffing is quite an extensive process, if carried out by an in house recruitment team. It does not end on hiring of the staff but the new employees need to be trained on the equipment being used in the company, construction procedures and processes. This puts a great burden on the hiring team to make sure not only to select the right people for the project but also to make sure they are well trained and equipped with the skills required for any particular construction project. This does not end up on hiring and training only, but it goes way beyond how you manage and retain a competent and satisfied workforce. The human resource department in some companies also need to take care of the accommodation of these construction labours, their medical fitness, health insurance, food supplies etc. So it demands a significant level of time and energy in hiring and maintaining an effective workforce for construction companies.

To avoid all of these troubles, hiring and managing the construction workforce; outsourced staffing, has become a norm for most of  the construction companies. It’s not merely filling the positions, but it helps leveraging company’s production by focussing on the key tasks and delivery of the projects rather than getting busy on hiring. It can be carried out in different ways, either you can hire complete staff on each project basis or you can use some of your in house team members and just add on the extra workforce through outsourcing agencies. This trend is getting much popular in hiring temporary labour in Canada through well reputed construction staffing agencies. These temporary staffing agencies take care of all these liabilities related to the construction workforce and provide you with well trained and skilled personnels ready to work on a construction project. The temporary staffing agencies conduct all initial recruiting, screening and interviewing and negotiates the contract with construction workers, providing the workers with necessary training. 

At True North Labour we are committed to provide well trained and highly skilled workforce to construction companies. We have a dedicated team to help construction companies with providing them the well trained workforce. We spend a diligent amount of time on selecting, recruiting and constant training of the construction workforce , so our partners (construction companies) do not need to bother about any of these.

Coronavirus Risks for Construction Workers; Start of year 2020 had brought the world’s businesses to almost a halt with widespread COVID – 19 pandemic. Almost 3 million people have got infected through Novel Coronavirus world wide and has caused a huge economic loss all over the world which exceeds in trillions of dollars. Apart from the health and economic impact on the world it has altered altogether how people interact and do businesses. There are plenty of businesses which are shut off because of this pandemic while those which are still operating are facing the challenges of their workforce safety and how to ensure their health. Among those businesses which are still operating during COVID – 19 , the construction sector is one of these.

Construction employees have been very vulnerable even in ‘normal’ operations when it comes to workplace safety. Construction industry is considered to be the 2nd most dangerous industry in some states of United states. However this emerging pandemic has posed more serious health and safety risks to construction sector employees. Is the construction of some structures more than an emergency hospital “important work” in the current climate? Will it work safely? Can a construction site be really “social distancing?” More specifically, will these workers arrive at their construction sites without using public transport? These are few of the many concerns which the industry’s leaders have to find a quick solution in time of this pandemic.

In most Building sites, injuries tend to occur due to time pressure. When asking a victim or observer of the incident; why their incident happened on day 1 of their employment or day 25 a standard response was because of time pressure. On day 1, inadequate training was the key reason behind many incidents, while all the preceding incidents are caused because of short deadlines and not enough labour to finish the project on time. Time pressure has become more exaggerated during the period of this pandemic, because of shortage of labour supply as well as movement restrictions. Should there be enough time before the pandemic occurs to produce enough ventilators, will there be enough workers in a company to handle the orders now that a majority of other employees are self-isolating? These are some lessons or questions this pandemic has brought to industries leaders.

To cope up this alarming situation for the construction sector; controlled measures must be introduced to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Construction employers remain responsible for providing their workers with a stable work environment, a safe place of work. Employers need to make sure safe transportation for the workers while keeping distance among the workers. The transportation vehicles need to be sanitized as much as possible. Also the employer needs to make sure to arrange the work processes and tasks to ensure social distance among the construction workers, although in some situations in the construction industry it’s not possible.

Where workers work in close collaboration, it raises the risk of COVID-19 exposure. At True North Labour, being a temporary construction employment agency clients and workers safety is very important to us. We have developed high standard protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID – 19 spread among our workforce.As a provider of regular construction labour services, our top priority at @truenorthlabour is the safety of both our clients and employees. We have been following the rapid development of the COVID19 situation, and we wish to address some health and safety measures being put in place to ensure everyone’s safety.