Work‑Sharing – Who Is Eligible

Eligible employers

• Operate year‑round in Canada for ≥ 2 years. (Evidence needed to show normal business patterns.)
• Business types: private businesses, publicly held companies, and eligible non‑profits (that retain profits to support organizational goals). Public‑sector bodies are not eligible.
• At least 10% decrease in overall work activity in the last 6 months, caused by factors beyond employer control (e.g., lost contracts, market changes, supply issues). Show hours lost vs. prior quarter/year using metrics like sales, production, hours worked, stock levels, and new orders.
• Recovery measures are in place to return staff to normal hours by the end of the agreement.
• Work‑Sharing unit (WS unit) has at least two eligible employees sharing available work equitably.

Ineligible employers

• Experiencing a labour dispute (e.g., slowdown, strike, lockout, work stoppage).
• Facing a cyclical or seasonal shortage of work.
• Where reduced work arises from increasing employee headcount or internal business decisions to reduce staffing for efficiency or profit.
• Public‑sector administration of government programs (e.g., municipalities, government agencies).
• Self‑employed individuals.

Eligible employees

• Core staff: year‑round, permanent full‑time or part‑time employees needed for day‑to‑day operations.
• Eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.
• Agree to reduce normal hours by the same percentage and share available work equitably.
• Recently laid‑off core staff may be included in the WS unit.
• Note: EI eligibility is assessed after an employee applies for EI; they are not required to disclose EI status to the employer.

Ineligible employees

• Seasonal workers (e.g., lifeguards, ski resort staff).
• Co‑op students.
• Casual/on‑call staff.
• Temporary help agency workers.
• Self‑employed individuals.
• Roles that generate work or direct the company (e.g., senior management, product development, marketing, sales) and those holding > 40% voting shares or acting as investors.

Special measures

Tariffs (March 7, 2025 – March 6, 2026): Time‑limited flexibilities are in place in response to tariff risks. Refer to the official “Special measures” page for the most current details.