When Phase 2 of B.C.’s Restart Plan kicked off in May, restaurants and many small businesses were given the green light to reopen their doors under strict protocols. So far, the majority of customers have been understanding and cooperative, and recognize the restrictions are a necessary part of this […]
“Human Resources” for Small Business
How Your Workplace Can Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Visit Our COVID-19 Support Service When it comes to COVID-19, we’re all in this together. The efforts we make now can help speed up our return to normality down the road. As businesses across British Columbia begin to consider re-opening, employers should be taking all necessary […]
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Opens for Applications
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program has opened for applications. A central pillar of the federal government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, CEWS consists of a 75 per cent wage subsidy on the first $58,700 of employees’ wages for three months, retroactive to March 15, 2020. This subsidy is […]
B.C.’s New Legislation: Updating Workplace Policies
COVID-19 has prompted a series of legislative changes across the country, including British Columbia. Two new leaves have been added to the province’s Employment Standards Act (ESA), to protect workers and their jobs. Business owners must now learn their new obligations and provide eligible employees with their entitlements if they […]
Day of Mourning Offers an Opportunity to Reflect on Health and Safety
Do you know why April 28 is an important day for your business each year? It’s the national Day of Mourning, an annual event remembering the people who have lost their lives to a work-related incident or occupational disease. It’s also a reminder of how you can make a significant […]
Resources for Small Businesses Affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19)
UPDATE – 2020-04-16 This resource page has now been transitioned across to our new B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service website. We will no longer be making any updates to this page, so please see the latest updates at covid.smallbusinessbc.ca or clicking the button below. READ LATEST […]
What’s Happening in March 2020 at Small Business BC?
The green shoots of spring are starting to appear across our province meaning winter is at an end. Why not use this transformational time to review where your small business could use a refresh? Perhaps it’s time to upgrade off your marketing plan; maybe it’s time to consider incorporation or […]
Road Safety at Work
Work-related motor vehicle incidents (MVI) continue to be the leading cause of traumatic workplace fatalities, accounting for 38 per cent of traumatic work-related deaths in B.C in 2018. That is why Road Safety at Work is launching a campaign to remind employers and workers about the value of an effective […]
Are You a ‘Bad Boss’?
“They say that people don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses … so why are there still so many bad bosses out there?” This earnest question came from one of my students last week. The whole class turned their eyes toward me, some nodding in agreement, waiting for an answer. […]
6 Signs That Say It’s Time to Outsource Your Business HR
When a company is really small, you as a business owner believe that you can run everything yourself, even HR tasks, knowing that you are no expert at handling payroll, compensation & benefits, legal compliance, training & development, etc. But when your business starts experiencing growth, it may reach a […]