Info-Guide – Employment and Training

The purpose of this Info-Guide is to provide you with information about the employment and training-related programs and resources made available to you by the federal and provincial governments, the private sector, and certain non-governmental organisations.

While most of your questions will be answered in this document, it is not intended to be exhaustive. In addition, we suggest you consult the other Info-Guides listed at the end of this document.

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This Info-Guide was developed by Info entrepreneurs in collaboration with the Canada Business Network.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Humans resources
2. Laws and regulations
3. Employment programs
4. Training
5. Tools and other resources

1. Humans resources

Recruiting and hiring

Hiring Process
The hiring process begins when the company hiring tries to determine what the job involves and it ends when a job offer is made. Key aspects of the hiring process include understanding:

• Job analysis steps
• Writing job descriptions
• Recruiting
• Pre-Interview screening
• Preparing for the hiring Interview
• Pre-interview testing
• The job interview
• Reference checks
• Job offers

For more information, consult Hiring Employees on the Government of Canada‘s HR management site.

Are you an employee or self-employed ?
A payer's or a worker's responsibilities are different according to the type of employment relationship that exists. If the type of employment relationship is not correctly established from the beginning, there could be consequences for the payer and the worker. Our document Employee or Self-Employed? is for payers or workers who want to know the nature of their business relationship.

Automate the recruiting process
E-business technologies can also help you recruit good candidates. The Recruiting section of the SME Direct Web site contains information on the objectives, challenges and decisions that smaller companies need to consider in choosing to outsource or automate the recruiting process.

Pay system and employee retention

A formal pay system provides a means of rewarding individuals for their contributions to the success of your business, while making sure that your organisation receives a fair return on its investment in employee pay. Our document Setting Up a Pay System provides time-tested concepts for determining competitive pay levels and for maintaining fair pay relationships among the jobs comprising a small company.

The Groupement des chefs d’entreprise du Québec has developed a tool based on the experiences of business executives and workplace initiatives undertaken by human resource professionals. In the PDF document Comment fidéliser son personnel?, the question of how to earn employee loyalty is addressed under four major headings: the company’s vision and values, the living environment, relationships within the company, and personal development. Within each of these headings, the subjects of hiring, conditions promoting the development of loyalty, and the results of their application are discussed. (In French only)

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Other resources:

Calculation for employees – Tools
The Commission des normes du travail offers a calculation tool for regular employees, employees receiving gratuities, employees on commission and employees on a piece work basis. An operating guide and list of available tools is offered for each employee category. http://www.cnt.gouv.qc.ca/en/outil/index.asp

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2. Laws and regulations

Labour standards

In Québec, the Commission des normes du travail is responsible for the application of the Act respecting Labour Standards, which establishes the minimum conditions of employment in the absence of better conditions provided for in a collective agreement, a contract of employment or a decree. Labour standards include:

• The minimum wages, payment and tips
• Training periods
• Coffee break and meal period
• Part-time and overtime
• Paid statutory holidays and annual leaves
• Sick, maternity and paternity leaves

For more information on these standards and their application, consult the Commission des normes du travail Web site at http://www.cnt.gouv.qc.ca/en/index.asp  

Equity in the workplace

As an employer, you must obey two laws concerning employment equity:

• The Employment Equity Act , which aims to prevent discrimination against women, aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities, and persons with disabilities.
  
• The Pay Equity  Act , which aims to eliminate sexist prejudices affecting wage practices.

For more information, visit the Équité au travail  section of the Quebec Government’s Services for businesses portal.

The Commission de l'équité salariale also offers tools for achieving employment equity and avoiding gender-based discrimination in the Réaliser l’équité salariale  section of its Web site.

Health and security

Workers’ compensation and workplace safety
The Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST) administers the occupational safety and health plan for the Québec  government. In particular, it enforces these two laws:

• An Act respecting occupational health and safety, which aims to eliminate, at the source, dangers to the health, safety, and physical well-being of workers;
  
• An act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases , which aims to provide compensation for employment injuries and the consequences they entail for workers as well as to collect from employers the money needed to finance the plan.

Health Canada offers resources and publications related to workplace health, including information about models of action for promoting health in the workplace, managing stress-related risks, and absenteeism. For more information, consult our document Workplace Health.

Deductions and contributions/ Record of employment

You must make payroll deductions (deductions at source) and pay contributions to the Quebec and federal governments. The majority of these deductions and contributions must be paid to Revenu Québec. To do this, you must first obtain a numéro d'identification. (In French only)

There are five mandatory source deductions:

• Employment insurance
• Union dues (if applicable)
• Federal and provincial taxes
• Québec pension plan
• Québec parental insurance plan

If your company is subject to a collective agreement decree administered by a parity committee, or if you are a construction employer, you must respect certain specific requirements. For more information, consult the document Décrets de convention collective/comités paritaires (Ministère du Travail) and Loi R-20 (Commission de la construction du Québec). (In French only)

In addition, banks and caisses offer payroll services including the calculation of the various deductions.

Social Insurance Numbers
You are required, under theCanada Pension Plan Act (Social Insurance Number), to obtain an employee's SIN and if the employee fails to produce his card, you must report this within three days. For more information, consult our document ARCHIVE - Canada Pension Plan - Social Insurance Numbers.

Québec Pension Plan (QPP)
All workers aged 18 or older must pay QPP contributions. The QPP provides basic financial protection to workers who retire or become disabled and to the families of deceased workers. The QPP is the Québec equivalent of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). http://www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/eng/entreprise/retenues/cotisations/rrq_employe.asp

Canada Pension Plan
The Canada Pension Plan Act and its Regulations establish a contributory, earnings-related social insurance program.An employer must deduct an employee's contributions and remit that amount together with the employer's contributions to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). For more information, consult our document ARCHIVE - Canada Pension Plan - Payroll Deductions.

Employment Insurance Program
The Employment Insurance (EI) is a social program that contributes to the security of all Canadians by providing assistance to workers who lose their jobs and helping unemployed people across the country to get back to work. For more information, consult our document Employment Insurance Program.

Québec Parental Insurance Plan
The Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) stipulates that financial benefits be paid to all eligible workers – salaried or self-employed – who take maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave, or adoption leave. http://www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca/a-propos-regime/index_en.asp

Employment Insurance – Payroll Deductions
The Employment Insurance (EI) Act specifies the withholding, remitting and reporting requirements of employment insurance premiums for employers. For more information, consult our document ARCHIVE - Employment Insurance - Payroll Deductions.

Work Sharing Program – WSP
Work Sharing enables employers to retain workers and avoid layoffs during temporary work slowdowns and employees are able to maintain their skills. For more information, consult our document Work Sharing Program - WSP.

Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB) Program
The Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Program provides supplemental payments to Employment Insurance benefits during a period of unemployment due to temporary stoppage of work, training, illness or injury. For more information, consult our document Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB) Program

Record of Employment – ROE
The Employment Insurance regulations require every employer to complete a Record of Employment (ROE) when an employee stops working and when an interruption of earnings occurs. For more information, consult our document Record of Employment (ROE).

The Act to Foster the Development of Manpower Training
Since 1995, employers whose total payroll is $1 million or more must invest at least 1% of the total payroll in employee training. Emploi-Québec is responsible for the implementation of this Act. http://emploiquebec.net/francais/entreprises/loiformation/index.htm (In French only)

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Other resources:

National Quality Institute – NQI
The NQI stimulates, promotes, and supports the adoption of quality and healthy workplace principles in all sectors and recognizes exceptional accomplishments through the Canada Awards for Excellence program.  National Quality Institute - NQI.

Prologiciel – Commission de l'équité salariale
The Commission places a computation tool for achieving pay equity within their companies quickly and without cost at the disposal of business executives: le Progiciel pour réaliser l'équité salariale. Download directly from the following Web site: http://www.ces.gouv.qc.ca  (In French only)

You will also find on the Revenu Québec Web site the Guide for Employers: Source Deductions and Contributions and WinRAS , a computer program to calculate source deductions and employer contributions.

Payroll – Canada Revenue Agency
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/business/topics/payroll/menu-e.html

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3. Employment programs

Tax credits for scientific research and experimental development (R&D)
Experimental development involves work on creating or improving materials, devices, products or processes. The tax credit ranges from 17.5% to 35% of eligible expenditures, which generally consist of salaries. For more information, contact the nearest Revenu Québec office or visit http://www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/eng/entreprise/impot/credits/rd/index.asp

Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program
The federal government provides income tax incentives to encourage Canadian businesses, including small business and start-up firms, in all sectors to develop technologically advanced products and processes in Canada. Claimants can apply for SR&ED investment tax credits for expenditures such as wages, materials, machinery, equipment, some overhead and SR&ED contracts. For more information, consult our document Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED;) Program, call 514 496-1317, 418 648-7151 or 1-800-959-7775, or visit http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/taxcredit/sred/menu-e.html

Aide financière aux employeurs pour la réadaptation d'employés
To help workers who have sustained employment injuries to re-enter the labour market, the CSST offers subsidies to employers who hire them or create jobs for them. For more information, call 514 906-3000, 418 266-4000 or 1-800-267-6811, or visit http://www.formulaire.gouv.qc.ca/cgi/affiche_doc.cgi?dossier=3951&table=0 (In French only)

Major Employment-generating Projects in the IT Sector – Investissement Québec
This fiscal measure is designed to consolidate the development of information technologies (IT) and encourage the creation and expansion of companies. Eligible corporations can obtain a tax credit until December 31, 2016. The eligible wage corresponds to the employment income generally calculated pursuant to the Québec Income Tax Act. It is the wage paid to an employee, up to an annual limit of $60 000. For more information, call 1-866-870-0437 or visit http://www.investquebec.com/en/index.aspx?page=1899 

Subvention salariale d'insertion en emploi
This program, administred by the Centres locaux d'emploi – CLE (Local Employment Centres), offers a subsidy to existing businesses who are interested in hiring a social security or employment insurance recipient. The program is available to cooperatives and both non-profit and profit companies, located in Québec. In general, the duration of the subsidy lasts up to 30 weeks but could be extended up to 40 weeks. The duration of the subsidy lasts up to 52 weeks for the cooperatives. For more information, contact your "Local Employment Centre" (consult the Entrepreneurship Assistance document for your region) or visit http://emploiquebec.net/francais/entreprises/recrutement/aide/chomage.htm (In French only)

Programme d’aide à l’intégration des immigrants et des minorités visibles en emploi (PRIIME)
This program is offered by Emploi-Québec in partnership with the ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles and Investissement Québec. It is aimed at encouraging SMEs to hire immigrants and visible minorities. For more information, contact your local employment centre (consult the Entrepreneurship Assistance document for your region) or visit http://www.emploiquebec.net/francais/individus/msemploi/priime.htm (In French only)

Tax credit for practicums in the workplace
All companies, cooperatives and eligible individuals operating a business in Québec could benefit from a refundable tax credit for hiring an intern registered in an official full-time secondary school vocational training program, technical training college program or undergraduate training program. Recognised educational institutions, jointly with Revenu Québec, are responsible for applying this measure. For more information, call 514 864-6299 or 418 659-6299, or visit http://www.inforoutefpt.org/creditimpot/en/

ExportEdge Program
The ExportEdge program matches and mentors eligible individuals between the ages of 15-30 who are interested in developing export based careers with companies that need assistance with specific export oriented projects. http://www.exportsource.ca/gol/exportsource/site.nsf/en/es02751.html

Youth Awareness
Youth Awareness provides financial assistance to sponsors to design projects that respond to specific labour market requirements and adjustments. The expectation of Youth Awareness is that sponsors, employers, communities and youth will develop a heightened awareness of youth as the workforce of the future. For more information, consult our document Youth Awareness, contact their local HRSDC (consult our document Entrepreneurship Assistance of your region) or visit http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/epb/yi/yep/programs/info.shtml 

Youth Employment Strategy
Internship programs are available through the Youth Employment Strategy. For more information, call 1-800-935-5555 or visit http://www.jeunesse.gc.ca/yoaux.jsp?auxpageid=706&ta=1&flash=1&lang=en

• NRCan Science and Technology Internship Program 
• Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium Enterprises
• ARCHIVED - Collaborative Research Internships Program
• Young Canada Works
• Environmental Youth Corp. (EYC) and EYC International
• ON HOLD - Science Horizons Youth Internship Program
• Skills Link Program
• Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)
• Career Focus Program

Placement étudiant du Québec (PEQ)
The goal of Placement étudiant du Québec is to help regular, full-time students improve their employability in their fields of study and to help employers prepare a new generation of employees. Placement étudiant du Québec (PEQ) offers different programs. For more information, call 418 643-6965 or 1-800-463-2355, or visit http://www.peq.gouv.qc.ca/en/accueil.html

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Other resources:

WorkopolisCampus.com
WorkopolisCampus.com is a national Internet database that quickly matches employers' precise needs with the skills of young job seekers. It offers students greater access to employers and jobs across Canada and provides efficient and cost-effective recruiting for employers. http://campus.workopolis.com/servlet/Content/wcjobseeker/en/index?gateway=campusen

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4. Training

In-house training
Whether you are considering a continuous program or a one-shot course, you must determine:

• the goal
• the subject matter
• the type of training
• the method of instruction
• the resources required (materials and facilities)
• the schedule
• the cost
• the checks and controls
• the promotion / publicity

and you will have to identify

• the instructor
• the employees who should be selected for the training

Our document Checklist for Developing a Training Program addresses each one of these subjects through a series of questions that will help you develop a training program adapted to your company.

Guide d'aide à la décision sur la formation par les TIC – Les Manufacturiers et exportateurs du Québec (MEQ)
This guide answers the following five questions: Does training through information and communication technologies suit my company? Does it meet my training needs? How do I choose the right devices? How do I calculate the cost? What are the benefits for my company? This guide is available free of charge at https://extranet.cefrio.qc.ca/indexWeb.cfm?type=produits (In French only)

Fonds national de formation de la main-d'oeuvre
This fund, managed by Emploi-Québec, is financed by the contributions that employers regulated under The Act to Foster the Development of Manpower Training who have not invested 1% of their overall payroll into manpower training.have remitted to the ministère du Revenu. This fund will allow employers to implement training projects for their employees and will also subsidise the marketing of training projects. http://emploiquebec.net/francais/entreprises/loiformation/fondsnational.htm (In French only)

Emploi-Québec
Emploi-Québec is an integral part of the Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. Its mandate is to sustain the Employment Measures and Services. To assist individuals and companies in terms of work force and jobs, as well as responding to the needs of clienteles from all regions of the province, Emploi-Québec works in association with the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (Labour Market Partners Commission) and the regional councils of labour market partners. For more information, call 514 873-1892, 418 643-1892, or 1-888-Emplois (367-5647), or visit http://www.emploiquebec.net/anglais/index.htm

Programme d'apprentissage en milieu de travail
This program from Emploi-Québec uses a mentoring formula whereby an apprentice learns a trade by working with an experienced individual who shares his know-how. Eligible participants must be 16 years old and over, employed and registered in the program by their employer. For their part, employers must guarantee satisfactory training both in terms of the equipment and techniques used, as well as working, hygiene and safety conditions. Well-trained employees are a major asset to your company's competitiveness and you can obtain a tax credit to finance a part of your expenses. For more information, call 514 873-1892, 418 643-1892 or 1-888-Emplois (367-5647), or visit http://emploiquebec.net/francais/entreprises/formation/pamt.htm(In French only)

Détail Formation
Détail Formation offers retail and service-sector businesses a practical, varied and pleasing alternative for the development of managerial and employee skills. Détail Formation offers consultation services for the development of training programs, dynamic and interactive workshops and practical tools such as the Retail Business Management Workbook and the collection of 15 management guidebooks, intended for independent retailers or entrepreneurs who wish to start a retail business anywhere in Québec. For more information, consult our document Détail Formation , call 514 899-9555 or 1-888-822-5555, or visit http://www.detailformation.com/  (In French only)

Centres locaux d'emplois (CLE)
There are 154 CLEs (local employment centers) throughout Québec's 17 regions. Resources and services are available at each of these CLEs for people who need job assistance or financial support; employer’s eager to hire qualified staff and who have questions about manpower and manpower skill development. To find the location nearest you, consult the Entrepreneurship Assistance document for your region, call 418 643-4721 or 1-888-643-4721, or visit http://www.mess.gouv.qc.ca/services-a-la-clientele/centre-local-emploi/Index_en.asp

CURSUS: Le répertoire de la formation à distance
A directory listing remote training courses offered in Canada and abroad. Courses, manuals and educational software in French. http://cursus.cursus.edu/

Canadian Training Solutions for Workplace Learning
This online resource tool, developed by Industry Canada, helps employers find training solutions to meet the skills development needs of their organisations. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/incts-scf.nsf/en/home

SAE – Réseau public des services aux entreprises du Québec – Inforoute FPT
The CEGEP and school board SAEs offer companies and organizations continuing education and labour force training services in many different sectors of activity. For more information, visit http://www.inforoutefpt.org/sae/ or contact the nearest CEGEP to learn about the services offered. (In French only)

5. Tools and other resources

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)
The HRSDC Services for Business Gateway includes a section for employers and entrepreneurs offering information about human resources management. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/business/cluster/hrm.shtml

Human Resources Management
The Human Resources Management Web site is a one-stop information source designed to help SME employers save time in meeting their human resource-related needs and developing their business management skills. The site is a joint initiative of Human Resources and Skills Development (HRSD) and Industry Canada. For more information, consult our documentHR for Employers or visit http://www.gestionrh.ca/gol/hrmanagement/site.nsf/en/index.html

Economic Analysis of Human Resources in Canada Industries
Industry Profiles, available on the Department of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) Web site, are overviews of many industries within the Canadian economy, with a special focus on human resources issues. The profiles examine how the changing economic environment, and general trends in research & development and technology, affect the labour force employed in a given industry. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/hip/hrp/sp/research.shtml

Centre d'étude sur l'emploi et la technologie (CETECH)
CETECH, which answers to Emploi-Québec, is a study and research centre on employment and technology mandated to develop expertise about knowledge and information on the labour market. The CETECH projects involve highly skilled occupations and high-tech sectors touching on relations of all types between employment and technology, particularly for the multimedia and computer science sectors. For more information, call 514 873-7714 or visit http://www.cetech.gouv.qc.ca/Index_en.asp

Information sur le marché du travail (IMT)
IMT is designed for employers interested in learning about the labour market or looking to hire qualified workers.  http://emploiquebec.net/francais/imt/index.htm (In French only)

Human resources module of SME Direct
This section discusses the objectives companies need to set for themselves, the challenges they must face, and the decisions they must make when choosing between outsourcing or automating the recruiting process. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/dir-ect.nsf/en/h_uw00009e.html

Portail de l’Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines et en relations industrielles agréés du Québec – ORHRI
The Ordre is a referral organisation for human resources management and industrial relations in Québec.  ORHRI members are highly skilled and professional. The Ordre helps them to update their skills by offering education and information services, a training program, on-line reference tools, and a prestigious magazine. http://www.orhri.org/  (In French only)

Workplace literacy Central
This online tool aimed at Canadian employers was developed by the Conference Board of Canada in partnership with the Nat ional Literacy Secretariat (NLS). Using this practical tool will enable employers to implement various basic skill programs for their employees. For more information, call 1-866-711-2262 or visit http://www.conferenceboard.ca/workplaceliteracy

In conclusion

We hope the information provided in this Info-Guide has been helpful to you. Many other interesting documents, tools and links may be found on our Web site.

If you need more information about business-related subjects, our agents are available to provide you with free information about federal, provincial, and municipal government programs, services, and regulations as well as some programs and services offered by the private sector.

We offer you a free library research service as well as access to data bases and Web sites of interest to business people. Our information specialists are at your disposal to answer your requests for strategic information.

Don’t hesitate to contact Info entrepreneurs at 514 496-4636 or Ressources Entreprises at 418 649-4636. In the regions, call 1-800-322-4636.

• Info-Guide – Export
• Info-Guide – Multimedia, Culture and Communications
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Saguenay Lac Saint-Jean (Region 02)
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Region 08)
• Financing a Business
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Montreal (Region 06)
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Mauricie (Region 04)
• Info-Guide – Import
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Laurentides (Region 15)
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Lanaudière (Region 14)
• Social Economy – Financing and Technical Resources
• Info-Guide – Women Entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Outaouais (Region 07)
• Info-Guide – Cooperatives
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Bas-Saint-Laurent (Region 01)
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Centre-du-Québec (Region 17)
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Laval (Region 13)
• Info-Guide – Innovation / R&D;
• Info-Guide – Not-for-Profit Organisation (NPO)
• Info-Guide – Permits and Licences Required for Certain Types of Businesses
• Info-Guide – eBusiness
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Côte-Nord (Region 09)
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Nord-du-Québec (Region 10)
• Info-Guide – Business Start-Up
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Chaudière-Appalaches (Region 12)
• Info-Guide - Aboriginal Entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Montérégie (Region 16)
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Estrie (Region 05)
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (Region 11)
• Info-Guide – Young Entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship Assistance – Capitale-Nationale (Region 03)

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Links Policy
Some of the hypertext links lead to non-federal government sites which are not subject to the Official Languages Act and the material is available in one language only.