C-19 BULLETIN - April 5, 2021

Job-protected Leave for Workers to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

As part of BC’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, workers can take the time they need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine without fear of losing their jobs.  
 
The Province has made regulatory improvements under the Employment Standards Act to quickly bring in a job-protected leave. Part-time and full-time workers will be able to take the time needed to travel and receive the vaccine or to take a dependent family member to receive the vaccine.
 
These changes also provide unpaid job-protected leave if employees need to care for other family members because of COVID-19, and not only their child or certain dependant adults. As well, they allow workers with underlying conditions, who are undergoing treatment, or who have contracted another illness that makes them more susceptible to COVID-19 to take the leave. With these changes, BC’s regulation now fully aligns with the federal Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

Employers can provide input on the changes to Deputy Minister of Labour, Trevor Hughes Trevor.Hughes@gov.bc.ca, or ADM Danine Leduc Danine.Leduc@gov.bc.ca by Wednesday, April 7th.

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The Countdown is On...
 
Since the announcement of the pandemic over a year ago, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has been focused on ensuring your business survives and thrives. TIABC works closely with TIAC on federal issues and ensures BC concerns are brought to the discussion.
 
TIAC's 2021 Tourism Recovery Plan is in place and outlines the recommendations to supporting business solvency, championing safety, and keeping Canada globally competitive. 
 
TIAC President and CEO, Beth Potter has been meeting with Ministers and MPs across the country, participating in press conferences and interviews to elevate the need for continued industry support and solutions. 
  
With the announcement of the federal government tabling the 2021 Budget on April 19, the countdown is on. Now is the time when we all need to come together with one voice under TIAC.
 
If you haven't already done so, please visit TourismCounts.ca and send your letter to your Member of Parliament (MP) then share it on your social networks and encourage your colleagues and acquaintances to do the same.
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New PHO Public Order Now Available

A copy of the new public order for Food and Liquor Serving Premises is now available. Download it here.

The order is addressed to: restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, cafeterias, and food primary and liquor primary establishments, including pubs, bars, lounges, and nightclubs, liquor manufacturing facilities that have tasting rooms, and private clubs.

Highlights of the Order

  • No person may operate a premises as a nightclub
  • No person may provide food or drinks services inside restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, cafeterias and food primary and liquor primary establishments, including pubs, bars, lounges, liquor manufacturing facilities that have tasting rooms, and private clubs
  • A person may provide food or drink takeout or delivery services, subject to conditions (see page 3)
  • Premises which are licensed to serve liquor, and which do not have full meal service, must be closed, if they do not have a patio or other outside area in which to serve patrons
  • 'Full meal service' is defined as: food provided by a caterer to the premises or available from a food truck located beside or on the premises, but does not include snacks, appetizers, or tapas on their own
  • A person may provide food or drink services outside, including on a patio, subject to conditions (see page 4 onwards)
  • 'Patio' is defined as: a space completely open to outdoor air on at least two sides
  • A patron must remain seated, except to use a self-serve food or drink station, use a self-serve lottery ticket dispenser, pay at a pay station, use washroom facilities or when leaving the premises. A patron may use washroom facilities inside the premises and may walk through a premises in order to reach an outside place or patio.
  • No person may sell liquor between 10:00 pm and 9:00 am on the following day.
  • A tasting room with a liquor manufacturer license may have patrons inside for the purpose of tasting, subject to conditions (see page 6). Note: sections 1, 7, 8, 9, and 11 do not apply to a tasting room. Please read the order for details.
  • The rules for gatherings and events continue to apply. See pages 6-7.

Please read the order for full conditions and ensure your COVID-19 safety plan is up to date.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.
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Employee Support Options
During Circuit-Breaker
 
With the recent COVID-19 “circuit breaker” restrictions announced by BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO), Dr. Henry, restaurants, bars, pubs and other food and liquor service establishments have been substantially impacted. Employers are looking for options to help support and retain their employees, particularly through the next few weeks.
 
Strong communication plays a critical role in employee retention. Be sure to provide lots of open, transparent and ongoing communication with staff. Keep them informed about changes in the business, what they are and how it will impact them – personally - in their employment. Encourage employees to ask questions.
 
Short-term changes in operations may mean needing to adjust schedules, reduce hours, encourage vacation time, etc. Where possible, encourage discussions with employees and include them in decision-making. Not only does this help generate buy-in, they may suggest options that you hadn’t previously considered.

go2HR has information on various programs that employers may also want to consider, if they’ve not already done so. Read more here
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TIABC welcomes New Member

Canadian Staycations packages the services or two or more providers to build complete staycation and vacation packages for marketing to Canadian residents. Most of the products are BC-based.

They also run www.canadianskivacations.com as a focussed shopfront to market ski and snowboard products.
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Tell Us Your Story
 
A growing coalition of tourism and hospitality businesses and sectors from around the province is adding its voice to a BC version of the “Hardest Hit” campaign to compel federal and provincial governments to work with our sector on a restart plan that includes the lifting of travel restrictions for immunized people and for those that have tested negative for the COVID-19 virus.
 
As part of our advocacy efforts, we’re aiming to collect information in the form of stories from businesses like yours to inform government on the extent of the impact that travel restrictions have had on the visitor economy since the start of the pandemic.
 
We encourage you to write your story using the format (template) below to a maximum of two pages. Be as candid as you feel comfortable. By telling your story, you give us permission to share the information with government. We may also call on you to tell your story through social and/or traditional media channels, as well as via industry communiques.
 
Please send your (maximum 2-page) summary to info@tiabc.ca by April 10, 2021.
  
Background: Business name; location/s in BC; date established; ownership structure; # of full and/or part-time employees.
 
Primary Customers: Where your customers are from; demographics; who your booking partners are; what primary marketing channels you use.
 
Revenue Base:  State pre and post-COVID revenues (actual or range & % drop); how much longer you can afford to remain in operation; support programs you’ve applied for and either received or been rejected (state reasons for rejection).
 
Tourism Supply Chain: List other tourism businesses or other sectors that you work with and how your business supports these enterprises.
 
Government Decisions: State how federal and/or provincial government orders, directives and measures have affected your business; provide recommendations on what government can do differently or better to lessen the impact on your business.
 
Community Contribution: Illustrate why your business is a key part of your community and how travel restrictions have impacted you, your employees, your business in general, as well as the community you call home.
 
Personal Implications: Illustrate the ways the pandemic has affected you personally, professionally, mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually.

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Download the Super Camping App
& Plan Your Summer Camping Trips

Check out the Super Camping British Columbia app video then go to the App Store on IOS or the Play Store on Android and download today. Includes over 180 BC private campgrounds, 40+ lodgings, BC drives, travel tips and more. Give us a shout out on your social media if you have downloaded it! #CampinBC
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Moments of Levity

As an industry that continues to face enormous challenges during COVID-19, every once in a while it's important to share a laugh, a good story, a beautiful image, or an interesting anecdote to provide moments of levity during this most difficult time. Feel free to share your photos, etc. with TIABC to be published in our C-19 Bulletin each week.
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Global Meetings Industry Day 2021

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and as an industry, it’s time to take a future forward look at where we go from here.

Join MPI BC, FVEPA, ILEA and PCMA West for Global Meetings Industry Day where we’ll be broadcasting a very timely conversation on how we can proactively plan for and contribute to the restart of the industry in BC.

Thursday April 8th 9am to 10:30am (PT)

Register here


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Conflict De-Escalation for Frontline Staff
and Customer Service Professionals

Retail workers, receptionists, hospital unit clerks, customer service professionals, and others that interact with the public on a frequent basis often experience conflict in various forms from verbal attacks to violent, physical altercations. Their safety and security are a top priority, yet few are equipped with the proper tools and techniques to safely de-fuse these incidents. Mandatory mask requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic have heightened the importance of this topic, unfortunately, as some customers refuse to comply with these policies. 

Course ID: MSCD 002
April 8th 10:30am to noon (online via Zoom)
$150 plus GST

To learn more and to register:
 
Companies may also qualify for a provincial workforce training grant which would cover a portion of the tuition for any staff that they send: www.workbc.ca/employer-resources/bc-employer-training-grant/what-is-the-b-c-employer-training-grant
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TIAC & Destination Canada
Update on Industry Support Efforts and Marketing Plans

Friday, April 9th from 11am to 12pm EDT (8am to 9am PDT)
 
Beth Potter, TIAC President and CEO will provide an overview of advocacy efforts aimed at the survival and recovery of the Tourism Industry and a snapshot of the road ahead.
 
Marsha Walden, DC President and CEO will share a strategy update and next steps from Destination Canada.
 
The webinar will end with a question and answer period. While you can ask questions live, we encourage you to submit your questions at registration.
 
To register, click here. Space is available on a first-come-first-serve basis and is limited to 500 participants.
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Feel free to send us your ideas on what information would be valuable for TIABC to share through our COVID-19 Bulletin going forward. Drop us a line at info@tiabc.ca.