The new year will bring important changes to the Canada Labour Code. Come January 1, 2021, employers will need to ensure they maintain compliance with new Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations (the Regulations).? Part of ensuring compliance involves adequately and clearly communicating the regulatory changes to employees. This entails adhering to HR best practices of being transparent about these relevant changes.

Amongst other obligations, employers will need to develop a new company policy on harassment and violence, provide on-going education to employees, and develop a process to address and report claims of harassment and violence in the workplace. Employers should be mindful of the three main elements of the new anti-harassment and violence legislation contained in Bill C-65:

• Prevent incidents of harassment and violence
• Respond effectively to those incidents
• Support affected employees

Here are our top 3 tips to help you get started:

1. COMMUNICATE THE CHANGES

• Share the message visually in the workplace; display policies in common areas – such as lunchrooms or other staff common areas
• Send out digital as well as hardcopies of new policies in the form of internal handbooks or guide updates
• Hold a mandatory virtual staff meeting to communicate policy updates

2. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEEDBACK

• Significant policy change requires a more immersive communication process so that employees understand the change at hand
• Offer opportunities to follow-up or offer more guidance as necessary

• Allow for open-ended sessions where employees can vocalize their feedback, and allow for anonymous feedback and questions after training sessions
• Provide a welcoming environment for employees to feel safe and to be able to vocalize all their questions, concerns, or general comments
• Address employee feedback openly, frankly, and in a timely manner

3. LEVERAGE YOUR TEAM

• A good way to communicate a new policy or procedure is by identifying leaders within your team who can be ?champions? amongst their peers
• Leveraging leaders on your team can help make sure that employees can raise any questions or concerns
• Supervisors or managers with a solid understanding of new policies and procedures are better placed to help employees and can ensure that appropriate protocols are being followed

Employers have increased responsibilities in matters of workplace health and safety and a duty to prevent, respond to, and support employees in matters of harassment and violence.

While communicating crucial information and change in the workplace is challenging, it can be simplified with the proper tools and resources to support you.

We can help you make sense of these new regulatory changes.? Our landing page has industry-specific tools and resources to help you learn more about anti-harassment and violence obligations. Starting in early January 2021, Trucking HR Canada will also offer affordable training that is industry specific and designed to help you meet the requirements in the new Regulations. Click HERE for more.

Federally regulated employers will have new obligations to address workplace harassment and violence starting on January 1, 2021. Making sense of what?s required under these changes to the Canada Labour Code can be a challenge. What?s more, the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations (the Regulations) introduce many concepts and practices that might be new and unfamiliar.

On November 30, 2020, Trucking HR Canada hosted an informational webinar to help federally regulated stakeholders prepare for the new Regulations.? Key details were discussed about the training courses and resources that will help employers meet new legal requirements. ?We partnered with Miguel Mangalindan ? a senior associate from Monkhouse Law who specializes in employment law. Miguel provided an insightful overview of the ins-and-outs of new employer obligations and explained the first steps that employers can take to get ready for January 1^st. ?After his presentation, THRC fielded questions from the audience.

One theme stood out in the Q&A ??who is the Designated Recipient,?who can be appointed as a Designated Recipient, and?how does this work?

We heard you loud and clear. Let?s take a look.

Who or what is the Designated Recipient?

The Designated Recipient is a person, or team at your organization that the employer must appoint to respond to workplace harassment and violence complaints. They will receive complaints, manage the complaint process, and follow the complaint resolution procedures outlined under the Regulations. It is best if the Designated Recipient is not someone in a managerial role. This will help ensure that all employees can feel comfortable reporting a complaint. It creates a situation in which employees don?t have to fear being punished, disciplined, or retaliated against for raising a workplace issue with a superior.

Second, the Designated Recipient must be appropriately trained?before?taking on any duties associated with their role. When searching for the perfect candidate, bear in mind that if you don?t have someone qualified for the role yet, they can become qualified through training.

We?re here to help

Unfortunately, there is no ?instructional manual? to performing this role. But to support our employers, THRC will soon release a new resource focused entirely on all things ?Designated Recipient?.

You can expect the following details:

• The role of the Designated Recipient;
• Typical work duties of the Designated Recipient;
• Who can be the Designated Recipient;
• Designated Recipient training requirements, including training considerations;
• Competency Profile for the Designated Recipient; and
• Guidance on Identifying Candidates for the Designated Recipient.

This guide will help employers make informed choices on their next steps as they look to appoint an individual or group to play this vital role.

Visit our?HR & Training Resources?page to review our suite of templates, checklists, and informative documents focused on Bill C-65 and the new Regulations. Starting in January 2021, Trucking HR Canada will be releasing a suite of industry-specific training modules that provide Regulation-based instruction for employers, employees, and in incident response. Designated Recipients will be able to complete the full training program to obtain all the knowledge they need to understand key rights and obligations introduced by Bill C-65, including how to proceed during the complaint resolution process.

To find out more, keep an eye on our brand-new Anti-Harassment & Violence landing page, where we will continue to post updates on tools, resources, and training modules designed to support the trucking and logistics industry in adapting to, and complying with new Canada Labour Code requirements in this important area.

As an unsettled 2020 comes to an end, let?s look at what 2021 will have in store for our trucking and logistics workplaces.

The modernization of Canada?s Labour Code

In what our own Policy Analyst Marisha Tardif has likened to a ?legislative tsunami,? recent amendments to the Canada Labour Code include new labour standards, wage-fairness rules, and occupational health and safety requirements.

Many of these regulations took effect in September 2019 but several are yet to come. Notably, the amendments of Bill C-65 and the accompanying regulations which protect against harassment and violence in the workplace.

The Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations, published in June, make a long-awaited detail official: new anti-harassment and violence provisions will take effect on January 1, 2021.

The regulations will apply to all workplaces covered under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, including many trucking and logistics employers.

NOC updates

Canada is now conducting its 10-year review of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), the federal system for categorizing job types in the country, including truck driving.

The next release includes new job-skill classifications that address concerns about how the federal government incorporates formal and informal training, education, and work experience into the NOC.

In early 2021 we will see how truck drivers are classified in the new system, and how it will affect federal programs.

Training and wage subsidies

With the events of 2020 clearly demonstrating how important this industry is, Trucking HR Canada was able to access federal funds for training and wage subsidies for jobs in trucking and logistics.

Our Career ExpressWay program has successfully supported the training and onboarding of close to 100 young people across the country, in driving positions, logistics, IT support, administration, and more. It provides up to $10,000 for driver training and up to $15,000 in wage subsidy per employee.

Our hope is that we can expand our program in 2021 to better connect our industry to Canadians of all ages looking for meaningful work in a sector with loads of career opportunities.

Diversity and inclusion

No longer buzzwords, workplace diversity and inclusion will remain a focus of Trucking HR Canada as we help employers expand the pipeline of talent into our industry.

One key initiative is our 2021 Women with Drive Leadership Summit, planned for March 10^th. ?With an international flair, we look forward to learning from and virtually connecting with a global network of women who have stepped up in their respective countries in responding to the challenges of COVID-19.

Driver shortages

Whether you believe it or not, we are on track for more acute driver shortages.

That is why Trucking HR Canada is planning to bring together industry stakeholders to define the root causes of our recruitment and retention challenges, from compensation structures to the nature of long-haul trucking driving itself.

The shortage of qualified drivers is an enduring issue. But there are always new approaches and new ideas that can inform innovative and practical solutions.

Growing our Top Fleet Employers

Now in its eighth year, our Top Fleet Employers program has grown steadily.

Our Top Fleet Employers are leaders in promoting a positive image of trucking and logistics and offering great places to work. By sharing sound HR policies and practices, they set an important example as we reach out to young people, women, and other job seekers.

Each year trucking and logistics companies undergo a rigorous application process but only the best are recognized as Top Fleet Employers. Applications close January 28, and you can click here to learn more: https://truckinghr.com/top-fleet-employers/

COVID-19

Where things will go in 2021 is anyone?s guess, but we know for sure that trucking and logistics will be pivotal to ensuring all essential goods?from food to fuel, and even more importantly, vaccines?get to all Canadians.

Rest assured that Trucking HR Canada and all of our partners are here to support you in ensuring you have the skilled workforce you need to make that happen.

Cheers to 2021.

The modernization of the Canada Labour Code is having a significant impact on federally regulated workplaces. In what some have likened to a ?legislative tsunami?, the Canadian government has introduced a sweeping array of changes, including measures to achieve wage fairness, updates to federal labour standards, and new requirements in occupational health and safety.

While the bulk of these updates entered into force in September 2019, significant changes still lie ahead.

Most employers in the federally regulated space are already familiar with Bill C-65, which develops a framework to protect against harassment and violence in the workplace. Bill C-65 initiated an amendment to the Canada Labour Code, which led to the introduction of the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations released in late June of this year. The publication of the regulatory text finally makes a long-awaited detail official: New anti-harassment and violence provisions are now set to enter into force on January 1^st, 2021. The Regulations will apply to all federally regulated workplaces covered under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, including many trucking and logistics employers.

The Regulations in a Nutshell

With this key date just around the corner, it?s worthwhile to go over what these changes mean for the sector.? Boiled down to the basics, the Regulations are about ensuring that federally regulated employers are all working from the same rulebook when it comes to handling workplace harassment and violence. New rules will bring consistency to what employees can expect from their company, as well as new rights, responsibilities, and guarantees. To achieve this, employers will have to take steps to prevent workplace harassment and violence, respond appropriately and in a timely manner if it occurs, and provide support to affected employees. While the new requirements build on provincial frameworks that may already be familiar to many human resources departments, it?s important not to underestimate the nature of the change ahead.

To meet their obligations under the Regulations, employers must:

• Develop a new Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy;
• Work jointly with their policy committee, workplace committee, or their health and safety representative in introducing and maintaining key changes to the workplace;
• Assess the risk of workplace harassment and violence;
• Provide training to all employees, and participate in training themselves;
• Respond to all reports of workplace harassment or violence (including complaints made by former employees) and follow specific requirements related to timelines, processes, and procedures;
• Appoint a designated recipient of workplace harassment and violence complaints;
• Provide more options for workers to have their issues resolved (and respect every employee?s right to request a formal investigation);
• Make information available regarding support services for employees affected by workplace harassment or violence; and
• Maintain records on every incident and report annually to the Ministry of Labour.

The list of requirements above is not comprehensive. Nevertheless, it is clear from this summary that the new Regulations will require major adjustments to policies and procedures for many employers. Given new requirements, it is important for both employers and employees to understand the nature of these changes ? including how these new obligations will impact them and their workplace.

Understanding the Issues

Over the past year, Trucking HR Canada has been working to better understand these issues and how they affect our sector.? Through industry surveys and through research on different tools, approaches, and best practices, we learned more about what is happening within our industry.

In working to uncover how, when, and where harassment and violence is experienced in our sector, we also sought to understand what kinds of hurdles employers will face in adapting to the new legislative agenda. We learned that new federal obligations would require a significant adaptation process for many trucking and logistics employers. What?s more, 40% of survey respondents reported that they were unaware or unsure of what harassment and violence resources are available for the trucking industry, indicating that they would welcome further supports.

Resources coming your way

In partnership with Labour Canada, the Canadian Trucking Alliance, and all provincial associations, we have assembled a comprehensive suite of resources, tools, and training materials to help you prepare for reaching compliance with the new Regulations.

Here is a list of what you can expect to see in time for the January 2021 timeline:

• Three bilingual online training modules focused on rights and responsibilities under the Regulations (for employers, for employees, and for incident response);
• An employer?s guide to harassment and violence prevention, response, and support;
• A workplace policy template with compliance and best practice tips;
• An employer?s checklist to the workplace policy under the Regulations
• A risk assessment template;
• An employer?s checklist for the risk assessment process;
• Legal ?how-to? guides for employers and employees; and
• Informative webinars.

Once the COVID-19 situation is stabilized, employers can also expect updates on in-person training options. As a turbulent 2020 winds to a close, make sure to check out our website for more details, and stay tuned as we bring more information your way.

Canada is overhauling the National Occupational Classification (NOC) — the national reference on occupations in Canada.

The NOC provides a systematic classification structure that categorizes the entire range of occupational activity in Canada for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating occupational data. ?Every 10 years, the government conducts a major review of the NOC for the purposes of labour supply and demand analysis, skills development, occupational forecasting, and other programs and services.

The next release, scheduled for early 2021, includes a new structural approach.? Let?s take a look:

New ?TEER? approach

Reflecting changes in the economy and the nature of work, the?NOC 2021?revision will overhaul the “skill level” structure by introducing a new categorization representing the degree of training, education, experience, and responsibilities (TEER) required for an occupation.

The new TEER categorization considers the type of education, training, and experience required for entry, as well as the complexities and responsibilities typical of an occupation. This new structure has a scale of 0 to 5:

• TEER 0 is defined as high-level management.
• TEER 1 occupations usually require a university education or previous experience and expertise in subject matter knowledge from a related occupation found within TEER 2.
• TEER 2 usually requires post-secondary education, apprenticeship, or occupations with supervisory or significant safety responsibilities.
• TEER 3 occupations require less than two years of post-secondary education or on-the-job instruction.
• TEERs 4 and 5 usually require a high-school diploma or no formal education.

Better representation

The federal government says the TEER system better reflects the way people develop their skills and knowledge.

The revisions introduce changes that will make the new classification system more representative, useful, and achieve a more balanced representation of occupation groupings within a given classification. It will also address many existing concerns about how skill levels are categorized under the existing system.

Milestone dates

With a new NOC on the way, here are some key dates to consider:

• December 2020: Publication of the spreadsheet with the revised NOC codes.
• Early 2021: Release of the full classification for the NOC code (including the leading statements, main duties, employment requirements, example titles, inclusions, exclusions, and additional information).
• Spring 2022: Government programs and departments will implement the new NOC at their discretion. While Statistics Canada will implement in early 2021, Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is planning on Spring 2022 implementation, which will impact the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

At this point, we don?t know of any specific changes to NOC 7511, how truck drivers will be classified in the TEER system, or if the new classification will result in changes to affected programs.

Stay tuned. Trucking HR Canada, the Canadian Trucking Alliance, and your provincial trucking association will have updates as they become available.

HOW WORLD SKILLS CAN HELP YOUR FLEET

Before the Covid-19 pandemic started, the trucking industry was already experiencing severe shortages of talent for their trucking positions and as much as 61% of trucking industry employers admitted to having trouble filling these types of positions in a span of the last 12 months.?? Increasing the consideration of newcomers to Canada for these positions can help employers alleviate the vacancies for these roles. In the province of Ontario alone, newcomers/immigrants make up to almost 23% of the population and over 340,000 immigrants are expected to immigrate to Canada in 2020 alone.

Many employers such as the Federal Government, the City of Ottawa, TD Canada, RBC, COSTCO, Accenture, Business Development Canada etc. are tapping into this talent pool — adding global perspectives and experience to their workforce. Best of all, they find incredibly talented individuals who have an excellent understanding of the Canadian workplace and who are loyal to their employer. We have the largest pool of pre-screened newcomer talent in Ottawa who want to pursue truck driving as their career. ?There are programs available to employers (conditions apply) that could help alleviate some of the costs associated with getting a new employee licensed and support for onboarding costs.

Looking for a solution?

World Skills, a non profit employment centre in Ottawa, has been a leader in enhancing newcomers? economic integration into the Canadian economy for over 20 years. The centre helps immigrants incorporate into the workforce through employability assessments, employment competency building, job search training and support, cultural competency building, and language training.

To find out how to access these initiatives contact Theodros Haile

[email protected]

The modernization of the Canada Labour Code is having a significant impact on federally regulated workplaces. Over the past year, the Canadian government has introduced several changes to federal standards including flexible work arrangements, vacation pay, employee termination policies, pay equity, and more.

One important new piece of legislation is Bill C-65, which protects against harassment and violence in the workplace. Bill C-65 introduced the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations, which were published in late June. The new legal framework will come into force on Jan. 1, 2021 ? just three months from now.

The new Regulations apply to all federally regulated employers, including trucking and logistics firms that operate outside of their home province. These employers now have a legal obligation to understand and implement an anti-harassment framework for their workplace.

Understanding the Issues

Trucking HR Canada is working with Labour Canada to prepare our industry for these changes. This work started a year ago and includes the following:

– Surveying more than 300 industry employees and 100 employers on how workplace harassment and violence affects them.

– Interviewing employers to probe further into how they manage these issues.

– Researching best practices in terms of policies and training.

– Developing resources and training that will help trucking and logistics firms address harassment and violence in the workplace while ensuring their legal obligations are met, if not exceeded.

Through this work, we have learned a lot about what kinds of issues will be important for the industry as we move closer to the entry into force of new Regulations.

For example, we have learned that trends in trucking and logistics follow those in the general workforce. The industry?s harassment and violence incidence rate of 15% is similar to the Canadian workforce average (16%). Incidences of physical assault (2%) and unwanted sexual attention (2%) are also on par with Canadian averages for these types of incidents, according to Statistics Canada?s most recent General Social Survey (GSS) conducted in 2016.

That doesn?t mean that addressing harassment and violence is any less of a priority for trucking and logistics. In fact, half of our industry workers responded that they have been affected by this issue over their career. And many of these incidents go unreported ? meaning that employers may not be aware of the degree to which harassment and violence is impacting their workplace. In fact, harassment and violence are more of a ?workplace? issue than many initially thought. While many respondents to our survey believe harassment or violence is more prevalent at a client or customer?s place of business, incidents are far more likely to occur at their own workplace.

Work to Do

Part of the rationale surrounding the emergence of Bill C-65 was to make sure that all federally regulated employers are working from the same rule book when it comes to addressing harassment and violence in the workplace. For the trucking and logistics sector, there may be an adjustment period as employers adapt to new federal obligations. For example, half of the employers we surveyed said they had no formal process for preventing or managing incidents of workplace harassment and violence, and 60% did not provide mandatory workplace harassment or violence training for their employees. This will all have to change under the new framework.

As an industry, we clearly have much to do. It is time to fully recognize workplace harassment and violence as a key moral and operational concern.

Join Us

Rest assured, Trucking HR Canada is here to help.

Please join us for an informational webinar on Nov. 30 with an attorney who specializes in employment law. The webinar will brief employers on what has changed with the arrival of Bill C-65, cover new Regulatory requirements, and discuss key compliance topics. ?Trucking HR Canada will also provide details on training and other resources we have developed specifically to support trucking and logistics employers.

For those interested in learning more about how workplace harassment and violence affect our sector, Trucking HR Canada will also soon be releasing a summary report on its research findings. Check out our website for more details, and stay tuned as we bring more information your way.

Before COVID-19 hit, the Canadian trucking and logistics sector was already experiencing an acute driver shortage.

It was literally the day before the World Health Organization designated coronavirus a global pandemic that Trucking HR Canada released The Road Ahead: Addressing the trucking and logistics industry labour shortages.

Our report sounds the alarm on many fronts: high driver job vacancies within the industry, low unemployment generally, and the need to reach young people and women in order to expand and diversify the driver pool. And government has to do a better job partnering with industry and investing in training and access to wage subsidies programs for young people.

Just when we thought our research was done, the effects of COVID-19 on employment meant we had more work to do.

In May of this year we did just that.

We again surveyed industry employers directly to get primary data on the labour market impacts of coronavirus and applied additional economic modeling.

This is important information. The economy is preparing to rebound, and the government says it will look to provide tailored solutions for employers.

Timely, accurate, and credible labour market intelligence is the key to reassessing the industry?s needs and finalizing recommendations for moving forward.

Let?s take a look at where we stand:

Employment Forecasts

For the first two quarters of 2020, employment in the trucking and logistics industry is expected to shrink by 10.4% for a loss of up to 72,000 jobs.

Long-haul and regional truck drivers are especially hard hit. All told, the number of drivers is expected to contract by 10.9%, which equates to 34,700 jobs or roughly one in two pandemic-related job losses in the industry.

The increasing shift toward online shopping means that delivery and courier drivers are expected to experience a slightly below-average decline in employment with an anticipated 7,500 job losses, mostly in retail and wholesale trade.

Cost of COVID-19

Employment in trucking and logistics is tied to economic activity.? And, the trucking industry expected to lose $3.2 billion in revenue this year. The latest forecast of truck driver employment is 296,600 in 2020, roughly 21,000 below our pre-COVID estimate of 317,600 for 2020.

The labour shortages the trucking and logistics sector was experiencing pre-COVID-19 should moderate in the near-term, however, as demand recovers, vacancies within the sector will return as early as 2022, especially among truck drivers.

Projections

While drivers remain in a slightly different position from the rest of the industry, the projections indicate that trucking and logistics employment will stabilize by the first quarter of 2022 while remaining at approximately 1% below pre-COVID-19 levels through 2023.

The truck driver occupation is projected to experience a relatively fast recovery. Demand for drivers is expected to stabilize by the fourth quarter of 2021 and attain or possibly exceed pre-pandemic labour market projections by 2023.

However, anticipated retirements and other labour losses by 2023 indicate that this demand is unlikely to be fully met over the next three years. This important and timely research has confirmed that COVID-19 has simply stalled the driver shortage and has not negated it.

The question is whether we?ll have the perennial driver recruitment and retention challenges, including an aging demographic and need to reach women and younger employees, over the next three years.

Essentially, we could be right back where we started. At a time when many fleets are working to get back to their business of supporting the flow of goods through Canada?s supply chain, those tailored solutions our government keeps talking about cannot come fast enough.

New Anti-Harassment and Violence Obligations for Federally Regulated Fleets

July 7, 2020 by Marisha Tardif

Many fleets in our employer community have been following developments surrounding Bill C-65 ? a piece of federal legislation that amends the Canada Labour Code by introducing new guidelines on how harassment and violence can be prevented in the workplace, and how to address it if and when it occurs. While Bill C-65 received Royal Assent in 2018, specifics surrounding employer obligations and compliance timelines remained to be confirmed. But as per recent updates, there is now new information surrounding detailed requirements that federally regulated employers will have to meet.

On June 24, 2020, the federal government published the?Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations. The new framework will apply to the federally regulated private sector as of January 1st, 2021. Transportation companies that provide international and interprovincial services are regulated by the federal government and are therefore subject to these updates.

New rules will thus soon come into effect that will increase employers? responsibilities in matters of workplace health and safety. The new Regulations set a framework of obligations centered on three elements: the prevention of workplace harassment and violence, the delivery of a timely and effective response to incidents, and the provision of support for affected employees. Based on these three pillars, the new Regulations bring changes in the following main areas:

• Workplace harassment and violence prevention policy
  • Employers will be required to make available a workplace harassment and violence prevention policy that aligns with new Regulatory requirements.
• Workplace assessments
  • Employers will have to conduct assessments that identify risks of harassment and violence in the workplace and implement preventative measures to protect the workplace from these risks.
• Emergency procedures
  • Employers will be required to develop emergency procedures to be followed in situations where an occurrence of harassment and violence poses and immediate danger to the health and safety of an employee(s).

• Training
  • Employers will be required to identify and develop harassment and violence training and ensure it is delivered to all members of the organization, including to employers themselves but also to employees, and to the designated recipient of harassment and violence complaints in the workplace. Training will need to align to specific guidelines proposed under the Regulations, and will be delivered once every three years, including in the onboarding of new employees.
• Support measures
  • Employers will be required to make information available regarding support services that employees may access should they experience an incident of workplace harassment and violence.

• Resolution process
  • Employers will be required to respond to every notification of an occurrence of harassment and violence in their workplace, but also to structure their response around a more detailed web of specific requirements (including prescribed timelines, processes, and procedures).
• Records and reports
  • Employers will be required to keep records relating to harassment and violence in their workplace. They will also be required to submit annual reports to the Minister, as well as report on any fatalities that occur as a result of workplace harassment and violence.

It is clear from the above that the new Regulations will require major adjustments to policies, programs, and processes for many employers. Given new requirements, it is important for both employers and employees to understand the nature of these changes and how it will impact them and their workplace.

Trucking HR Canada is committed to providing trucking sector-specific resources to support the needs of the industry in adapting to these new changes. Central amongst these tools will be a bilingual suite of online and in-person training modules for employers, employees, and designated recipients of workplace harassment and violence complaints. Pamphlets that clarify employer and employee rights and obligations will also be made available, in addition to other forthcoming resources centered on best practices in workplace anti-harassment and violence. These supports will be made available in time for the January 2021 entry into force of the Regulations ? follow our website and social media channels to find out more.

Every employer across the country is feeling the impact of COVID-19 in its own unique way. But for HR professionals at truck fleets and logistics companies, they all have one challenge in common: making sure workers and especially truck drivers feel safe and secure in their jobs.

Trucking HR recently surveyed carriers, 3PLs, and freight brokers about the measures they have taken since the pandemic came to Canada and what they plan to do in the next three to six months. Let?s take a look:

Layoffs

Seventy-six percent of the employers we surveyed said they have laid off workers due to COVID-19, with 83% of those layoffs categorized as temporary. Layoffs of truck drivers were more prevalent in the short-haul segment and among employed drivers than contractors or owner-operators.

Dispatchers and mechanics were also affected, with 10% of employees laid off in each occupation.

Notably, employers that have already laid off workers said they are more likely to continue doing so over the next three to six months.

Employee-initiated departures

According to our survey, the most common reasons for leaves of absence and other types of employee-initiated departures were self-quarantine; the employee or a member of the household is at a high risk of contracting COVID-19; and family caregiving. Each reason was evenly cited among employers.

The combination of layoffs and employee-initiated departures reduced total truck driver employment across our sample by 11.4%.

Of particular concern to HR professionals is whether these employees have left temporarily or if we have lost them for good.

Reduced compensation

Not surprisingly, many employers have cut worker pay due to declining revenue. Roughly one in four employers in our survey have frozen salaries or wages for truck drivers. This measure was more common among companies transporting non-essential goods (31%) than those transporting essential items (15%).

Pay increases have been rare?13% of survey respondents said they are paying workers a premium due to COVID-19. Others are offering non-monetary rewards including flextime, child-care, and time off.

Another 15% of employers said they have provided truck drivers with monetary rewards such as gift cards.

Improving the image

The million-dollar question for our industry is this: has COVID-19 changed the stigma around working in the trucking and logistics sector?

The views are mixed.

On one hand, employers are divided about whether COVID-19 has made the job of truck driving more or less appealing.

While 35% of employers expect truck driving to be more attractive to prospective employees relative to pre-COVID, 23% believe the job will be less attractive, citing the attention brought to dismal working conditions and wages.

On the other hand, 29% of employers believe that COVID-19 has made trucking and logistics somewhat or much more attractive to other types of prospective employees (excluding truck drivers). This compares to only 4% who believe the attractiveness of the sector has declined for these potential employees.

Challenges ahead

It is interesting to compare these finding to another Trucking HR Canada study done in partnership with Abacus data where 54% of Canadians overall had a positive impression of trucking companies.

The Abacus study also showed that 85% of Canadians think a strong trucking sector is necessary for the economy to be healthy.

Yet barriers remain.

Despite the recognition brought to truck drivers for their essential role in keeping supply chains moving, people are still not rushing to join the industry. Just 35% of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 35 said they would consider a job in trucking and logistics.

And when we look at the huge government relief programs available, namely the Canadian emergency wage subsidy (CEWS), our survey of employers showed that among employers that have not applied for CEWS, the vast majority (85%) have not experienced the eligible revenue reduction to qualify for the subsidy.

At a time when trucking and logistics companies are working hard to survive, they are also essential to the survival of their customers. We cannot lose sight of the fact that our industry needs a level playing field when it comes to accessing government programs and initiatives for employees.

We have seen what supply chains look like when Canada is in the middle of a health crisis. We need a financially strong and resilient transportation industry so HR professionals can keep their truck drivers safe and prepared for the challenges ahead.