Contents:

• Welcome
• What's New
• GrandMaster Update

June 2010 - Welcome to the latest edition of The Payroll News. As always, please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and associates who are interested in keeping up with the latest changes in the Payroll industry. Or better yet, subscribe them for free using the Tell Others About Us link.

Listed here are recent changes in legislation on Federal and Provincial levels that may impact your payroll calculations. Please view the following list for changes that affect your region.

FEDERAL:

June 10, 2010 - Tables on Diskette (TOD) - Effective July 1, 2010 - TOD 2010.2.13 - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has released the latest Tables on Diskette (TOD), an electronic version of the Payroll Deductions and Supplementary Tables. TOD calculates payroll deductions for all provinces and territories for any pay period, for commission income, and for special payments such as bonuses. TOD also calculates the federal, provincial, and territorial income tax, Canada Pension Plan contributions, and Employment Insurance premiums that you withhold from an employee's or pensioner's income. (Full Story)

June 10, 2010 - Revised Payroll Deductions Online Calculator - The new Payroll Deductions Online Calculator and Tables on Diskette effective January 1, 2010 are now available on the CRA Web site. It helps you calculate payroll deductions for all provinces (except for Quebec), and territories based on the information you provide. To calculate payroll deductions for Quebec, download the WINRAS program from Revenu Quebec. (Full Story)

June 2010 - Payroll Deductions Formulas for Computer Programs (Draft) - A Draft of the new Payroll Deductions Formulas for Computer Programs effective July 1, 2009 is now available on the CRA Web site. This publication contains the formulas you need to determine federal, provincial (except Quebec), and territorial income taxes, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, and Employment Insurance (EI) premium deductions. The formulas also allow you to calculate payroll deductions for special cases such as commission, pension income, bonuses, and retroactive pay increases. (Full Story)

June 8, 2010 - June 15 filing deadline approaches for self-employed individuals - The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, reminds self-employed individuals and their spouses or common-law partners that the June 15 deadline for filing their individual income tax returns is one week away. (Full Story)

June 7, 2010 - Automated messages to new GST/HST registrants and new employers - In order to assist new GST/HST registrants and new employers in meeting their first filing and remitting deadlines, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will begin a national pilot project in June 2010 that involves sending automated phone messages to new taxpayers. The pre-recorded messages will remind them of their first filing and remitting deadlines. (Full Story)

May 28, 2010 - Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments Cooperate to Strengthen Canada's Job Market - Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for the labour market met today as the Forum of Labour Market Ministers. They discussed the significant actions governments have taken to respond to the economic downturn, support job creation and how initiatives, such as training, need to evolve to meet future challenges and new economic opportunities. (Full Story)

May 23, 2010 - Government of Canada supports youth in skilled trades and technologies - Over 550 youth from across Canada competed this past week in more than 40 trade and technology areas at the Canadian Skills Competition. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr. Peter Braid, Member of Parliament for Kitchener–Waterloo, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, congratulated all the participants and outlined the recent measures the Government has taken to support youth employment. (Full Story)

May 20, 2010 - The CRA takes action to enforce tax laws - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) uses a variety of tools and methods to identify non-compliance and take action to address tax cheating, as well as to correct honest mistakes. In 2008-2009, the CRA obtained more than 787,000 tax returns from individuals and corporations who had failed to file, which resulted in a fiscal impact of more than $2.3 billion. The CRA's Web site contains information on programs such as the Voluntary Disclosures Program that allows taxpayers to come forward and correct their tax affairs without penalty and prosecution. (Full Story)

May 18, 2010 - Appointment of Commissioner of Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Security Review Tribunals - The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, today announced the appointment of Julie Gagnon as Commissioner of the Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Security Review Tribunals. The Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals oversees the work of panels that hear appeals from Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) clients whose applications for benefits have been denied. (Full Story)

April 2010 - Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report - The HRSDC wesbite has posted The 2009 Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report focuses on the period April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. The report, prepared by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission, monitors and assesses the impacts of the Employment Insurance program on the economy, communities and individuals. (Full Story)

Alberta:

May 11, 2010 - Federal Government supports careers in skilled trades and technology for Alberta youth - Parliamentary Secretary Ed Komarnicki, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development announced today that young people from across the province are set to showcase their talents in the skilled trades and inspire others to learn more about careers in the trades and technology sectors. The Government of Canada is investing $130,215 in funding towards this project. (Full Story)

May 14, 2010 - Firefighters to receive enhanced WCB coverage for cancer - Firefighters will now automatically be eligible for Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage if they contract esophageal or testicular cancer. These two cancers are being added to the list of cancers with automatic WCB coverage for qualifying firefighters, bringing the list to ten. (Full Story)

April 28, 2010 - Provincial on-the-job injury rate hits record low - Fewer people were hurt on the job last year as Alberta's workplace injury rate hit a record low. Occupational fatalities were also down, from 166 in 2008 to 110 in 2009. The disabling injury claim rate decreased to 3.09 per 100 full-time jobs in 2009, from 3.63 per 100 in 2008. This includes injured workers who cannot work their next shift (lost time) or have to be placed on modified work to accommodate their injuries. (Full Story)

April 12, 2010 - Companies recognized for workplace health and safety performance - The Occupational Health and Safety Council has recognized eight Alberta companies for their workplace health and safety performance. The award winners were chosen from nominations submitted from across Alberta. As part of the Work Safe Alberta initiative, the Occupational Health and Safety Council sponsors three workplace health and safety awards. The purpose of these awards is to recognize the excellent work being done in the field of health and safety by organizations and individuals in the province, and to encourage others to follow these examples. (Full Story)

British Columbia:

June 7, 2010 - New WorkSafeBC chair appointed - WorkSafeBC announced today the appointment of George Morfitt as chair of its Board of Directors. The composition of WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors, as laid out in legislation, ensures that priority is given to the public interest and that B.C.'s worker, employer, and health care/rehabilitation communities receive a balance of representation. (Full Story)

June 2, 2010 - Labour Tool Helps Map Job Future - Students, job seekers and employers will benefit from a new made-in-B.C. tool that will help them choose the right career path and therefore, contributing to the Province's economic growth, announced Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. The BC Labour Market Outlook is a web-based, interactive report that provides users with reliable labour market information, such as the projected number and type of job openings in a given area. (Full Story)

June 1, 2010 - Government of Canada helps youth in Vancouver prepare for the labour market - Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job-preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for an employment project. The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

May 21, 2010 - Older Workers Plus New Skills Equal Better Jobs - Hundreds of older British Columbians in our most vulnerable communities will gain new skills and new employment opportunities with 23 new projects offered through the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) program, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development Moira Stilwell announced today. (Full Story)

May 20, 2010 - Working to better integrate foreign-trained midwives into Canadian labour market - The Government of Canada is helping better integrate foreign-trained midwives into the Canadian workforce. Mr. Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

Manitoba:

May 21, 2010 - Federal and Provincial Governments help youth, low-income individuals and immigrants in Winnipeg prepare for labour market - Local youth along with low-income individuals and immigrants who face barriers to employment will get job-preparation training and work experience through federal-provincial funding of $356,102 for an employment project. The Association will also receive $121,996 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Job Re-entry Program, which will help up to 10 youth, who have recently immigrated to Canada and are facing employment barriers, develop life and job skills to ease their transition to work or return to school. (Full Story)

May 20, 2010 - Literacy and essential skills project for older workers and employers - Local businesses and older workers will benefit from a Government of Canada investment in a literacy and essential skills development project. The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Provencher, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

April 27, 2010 - WCB's 2009 Annual Report Focuses on Injury Reduction, Improved Financial Position - The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) released its 2009 Annual Report today. It noted progress in workplace injury prevention and improved investment performance, in addition to showcasing how, when an injury occurs, the WCB supports a timely and safe return to health and meaningful work. The WCB also released its 2010-2014 Five Year Plan. (Full Story)

April 21, 2010 - Province Urges Young People To Apply For Summer Jobs Through Step And Green Team Programs - Applications are now being accepted for approximately 2,800 summer jobs under two provincial programs, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors. Young people, employers, and communities have benefited from provincial employment programs for students and youth since 1970. A variety of jobs are available that provide opportunities for youth to gain diverse work experience related to their field of study. The two programs now accepting applications from young people seeking summer employment are Green Team and STEP Services. (Full Story)

April 8, 2010 - Minimum Wage To Increase To $9.50 Per Hour Oct. 1 - The province will increase the minimum wage by 50 cents to $9.50 an hour on Oct. 1, Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard announced today. The minimum wage rate last increased by 25 cents to $9 per hour on Oct. 1, 2009, following an additional 25-cent increase on May 1, 2009. (Full Story)

New Brunswick:

June 4, 2010 - Labour force remains steady in May - The labour force in New Brunswick stood at 401,500 in May - unchanged over last month but 1,300 more than for the same month last year. Figures released by Statistics Canada show that 366,000 New Brunswickers were employed in May, up by 100 from the same month last year. The monthly unemployment rate stood at 8.8 per cent in May, 0.3 of a percentage point higher than last month and 0.2 of a percentage point higher than the same month last year. (Full Story)

May 14, 2010 - Federal Government helps New Brunswick youth prepare for jobs - Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job-preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for an employment project. The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

April 26, 2010 - Annual workforce profile released - The 2009 Government of New Brunswick Workforce Profile was released today. The annual report provides statistical information about key characteristics of the provincial government's workforce, as of the final day of the year. "The public service is facing demographic challenges with the gradual aging of the workforce," Brewer added. "We want to raise awareness of the issue with New Brunswickers, as our government focuses on preventing the loss of leadership experience and specialized skills." (Full Story)

April 16, 2010 - Government extends collective bargaining rights to casual employees - Legislation has been passed that will extend collective bargaining rights to casual government employees, Human Resources Minister Rick Brewer announced today. Amendments to the Public Service Labour Relations Act repealed a section that had excluded casual employees from collective bargaining until they had worked for at least six months. Employees will now be part of a union from the first day of employment. (Full Story)

April 9, 2010 - Government of Canada extends Employment Insurance transitional measures - The Government of Canada is extending Employment Insurance (EI) transitional measures for parts of New-Brunswick and Quebec. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway and Senator Percy Mockler on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

April 1, 2010 - WorksafeNB Releases 2009 Annual Report - WorkSafeNB's 2009 Annual Report released today highlights a return to positive operating results, including a surplus of $129.2 million, following two years of operating deficits. In 2009, WorkSafeNB rebounded to a fully-funded position of 101.6%, thanks to a prudent investment strategy and robust market returns. More importantly, the injury frequency declined in 2009, down by almost 5% from 2008. (Full Story - PDF)

Newfoundland and Labrador:

June 3, 2010 - New Co-operative Enterprise Pilot Project Encourages Skill Development and Career Opportunities for Youth - Young people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will have the opportunity to develop new skills and pursue career development opportunities in the co-operative business sector through a new pilot project, Skills Development and Career Opportunities for Youth: The Co-operative Enterprise Option. (Full Story)

May 31, 2010 - Government of Canada helps Port au Port youth prepare for jobs - Local youth who face barriers to employment are getting job-preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada's support for an employment project. The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

May 7, 2010 - Investment of $1.3 Million Helps Bridging the Gap to New Employment Opportunities - Through a commitment of $1,384,190, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced today that it will partner with the Random North Development Association to deliver six projects under the Bridging the Gap program, employing 77 individuals throughout the province. Bridging the Gap is an innovative program offered by the Random North Development Association. It connects unemployed individuals with rural businesses that have job opportunities but lack access to a trained workforce within their local area. (Full Story)

May 3, 2010 - Students to Benefit from Job Creation Partnership - Eight individuals will gain valuable work experience with the Eastern School District, Avalon West region, through the Job Creation Partnership program. The Provincial Government will support this project through a maximum investment of up to $37,536. Through this initiative, eight individuals will be hired to assist guidance counsellors in four high schools with respect to providing students with information related to career choices and course selection for high school. (Full Story)

April 15, 2010 - Newfoundland and Labrador reports lowest number of workplace injuries in 50 years - The number of workplace injuries resulting in lost-time compensation claims in this province has dropped below 4,000 for the first time in 50 years, the Workplace, Health, Safety and Compensation Commission reports. According to annual statistics finalized this month, there were 3,999 lost-time injury claims in 2009, down from 4,255 a year earlier. The lost-time incidence rate, which measures the number of claims per 100 workers employed in the province, remained at an all-time low of 1.9. The rate has declined steadily from a high of 3.2 in 2000. (Full Story)

Northwest Territories:

May 18, 2010 - Federal Government helps Aboriginal youth in Fort Smith prepare for jobs - Local Aboriginal youth who face barriers to employment will get job-preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada's support for an employment project. The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

May 11, 2010 - GNWT Launches New Employment Program for Small and Remote Communities - Small and remote communities in the Northwest Territories (NWT) are getting a boost through a new employment program announced today by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Through the Small Community Employment Supports Program, employers will be eligible for wage subsidies for hiring and training summer students and youth. (Full Story)

Nova Scotia:

June 4, 2010 - Students Should Know Their Rights, Stay Safe at Summer Jobs - The province is encouraging students workers and those seeking jobs this summer to know their labour and occupational health and safety rights and responsibilities. All employees should track their hours and pay stubs, know about minimum wage, overtime, holiday and other entitlements, and be aware of how much notice they need to give or be given when leaving a job. (Full Story)

May 28, 2010 - Province Consults on Working Conditions for Temporary Employees - A discussion paper released today, May 28, will help provide insight into conditions that face people who work for temporary employment agencies. Submissions are being sought until June 30 on workplace practices, access to information on worker's rights and other concerns. (Full Story)

May 13, 2010 - Province to Expand Workplace Safety Program in Schools - Nova Scotia students will soon know more about how to prevent a workplace injuries, thanks to new curriculum based on a successful pilot project. The program focusing on the importance of workplace health and safety was piloted to 330 Grade 9 students from across the province this past academic year. (Full Story)

April 9, 2010 - Nova Scotia workplaces becoming safer: WCB Annual Report - Nova Scotians who are enthusiastic about workplace safety continue to take action and make progress in creating a safety culture. In 2009, about 28,000 Nova Scotians were injured at work - an 11.5 per cent decrease from the year before. Of those, 7,200 people were injured seriously enough that they lost time from work. While this is a staggering number, serious workplace injuries fell below 8,000 for the first time in over a decade - a decrease of 20 per cent since 2005 representing 1,800 fewer serious injuries over that time. (Full Story)

April 7, 2010 - New Chair For the Workers' Compensation Board - The province has appointed Elaine Sibson as the new chair of the Nova Scotia Workers' Compensation Board. Ms. Sibson will take over from Chris Power who has been acting in the position since the departure of Ray Ivany. Mr. Power will remain on the board as deputy chair. The appointment is for a five year term with the possibility of reappointment. (Full Story)

Ontario:

June 7, 2010 - Government of Canada helps youth in Ottawa prepare for jobs - Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job-preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for an employment project. Mr. Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

June 3, 2010 - McGuinty Government Gives Businesses More Reasons To Invest In Ontario - Ontario's tax plan will create more jobs for Ontario families and make the province one of the most tax-competitive jurisdictions in the industrialized world for new business investment. Ontario's tax plan will help create almost 600,000 new jobs in the next decade, according to tax expert and economist Jack Mintz. That's enough jobs to fill over 200 more office towers like the OITC. (Full Story)

May 18, 2010 - Ontario youth encouraged to explore careers in skilled trades and technology - Local youth will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in the skilled trades and learn about career opportunities in the trades and technology sectors thanks to support from the Government of Canada. Mr. Peter Braid, Member of Parliament for Kitchener–Waterloo, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
(Full Story)

May 17, 2010 - Federal Government helps people with disabilities in Waterloo become self-employed - People with disabilities will get help starting their own business as a result of the Government of Canada’s support for Lutherwood, an employment services organization. Mr. Stephen Woodworth, Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

May 13, 2010 - McGuinty Government Enforcement Blitz Helping Reduce Falls Hazards - Ontario is taking additional action to improve the safety of workers on construction sites by increasing enforcement of regulations and enhancing awareness of safety measures. The province is implementing a number of new measures to improve safety on construction sites. (Full Story)

May 3, 2010 - New Workplace Violence Prevention Tools For Employers - Ontario employers have new resource tools to help prevent violence and address harassment in the workplace. New requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act come into effect on June 15, 2010. A tool kit and guide are available on the Ministry of Labour's website at www.labour.gov.on.ca. (Full Story)

Prince Edward Island:

April 14, 2010 - Minimum Wage Increases June 1 and October 1 - Minimum wage on Prince Edward Island will increase in two phases in 2010 to $9.00. Executive Council has approved the decision to implement the 60 cent increase as follows: from $8.40 to $8.70 effective June 1, 2010, and by an additional 30 cents to $9.00 on October 1, 2010. (Full Story)

May 2010 - WCB Policy Insider for May 2010 - The Workers Compensation Board of PEI has released latest Policy Insider -- a quarterly publication dedicated to providing you with information related to policies and other important facts about the Workers Compensation Board. The main focus of the Policy Insider is to help you get information on policy and increase awareness of policy changes that may affect you. (Full Story - PDF)

Saskatchewan:

June 8, 2010 - Saskatchewan Moves Toward Full Regulation Of Payday Loan Industry - Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan announced today the government has approved The Payday Loans Regulations, the next step to having a fully-regulated payday loan industry in Saskatchewan. The new regulations will prohibit harmful lending practices such as; charging additional fees beyond the allowed interest rate, charging fees to prepay the loan before its due date, and lending more than 50 per cent of the borrowers net pay during the term of the loan. (Full Story)

June 7, 2010 - Government of Canada helps people with disabilities in Northern Saskatchewan develop job skills - People with disabilities will get help preparing for jobs as a result of the Government of Canada’s support for the Gary Tinker Federation for the Disabled Inc. Mr. Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

June 4, 2010 - Saskatchewan's Unemployment Rate Lowest In The Country - Saskatchewan's unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) of 5.0 per cent is the lowest in Canada and well below the national unemployment rate of 8.1 per cent, according to today's Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey. There were 534,100 people working in Saskatchewan in May 2010, an increase of 4,000 over May 2009, and a record for that month. That increase was fueled by a jump in full-time employment of 5,400. (Full Story)

May 26, 2010 - Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Strengthen Foreign Worker Protection - To protect temporary foreign workers from exploitation and abuse, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan signed an information-sharing agreement today. e two governments will also work together on outreach activities and share communications tools that will help inform both employers and temporary foreign workers about their rights and responsibilities. (Full Story)

May 26, 2010 - Saskatchewan Workers See Largest Earnings Increase In Canada - Saskatchewan workers led the nation in March with average weekly earnings increasing 4.8 per cent over the same month last year. According to Statistics Canada's Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours, Saskatchewan's 4.8 per cent increase was tied with Newfoundland and Labrador for top spot. The national year-over-year increase was 2.9 per cent. (Full Story)

May 21, 2010 - Government Announces Funding To Increase Apprenticeship Training Opportunities - More apprentices will receive training as a result of a funding increase of $1.95 million to the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC). This year's budget increase includes $400,000 for a targeted initiative to bolster Aboriginal participation and success in apprenticeship training in the province. The government is investing a total of $19.7 million in apprenticeship training in the 2010-11 budget. (Full Story)

May 17, 2010 - Province Moves To Protect Emergency Workers With Changes To The Mandatory Testing And Disclosure Regulations - The Government of Saskatchewan has amended the regulations under The Mandatory Testing and Disclosure (Bodily Substances) Act to provide front line emergency workers with the ability to apply to the court for a mandatory testing order where they encounter bodily substances in any aspect of fulfilling their duties. (Full Story)

Yukon:

June 4, 2010 - New subsidy program to help Yukoners get jobs - The Government of Yukon now offers a temporary wage subsidy to encourage employers to hire people who have been unemployed for a long time or who are having difficulties entering the workforce. "The Government of Yukon is committed to increasing participation in the labour force and developing workplace skills. This initiative focuses on helping people who may not be eligible for existing employment programs," said Education Minister Patrick Rouble. (Full Story)

May 20, 2010 - YWCHSB Announces A Lower Average Assessment Rate For 2011 - The Board of Directors of YWCHSB is pleased to announce that the average assessment rate for 2011 will be significantly lower than the 2010 rate. The rate will drop from this year's level of $2.95 to $2.49 in 2011, a decrease of 15.6% or 46-cents less, per $100 of assessable payroll. This also means a projected drop in assessment revenues collected in 2011 of just over $4 million. (Full Story - PDF)

May 6, 2010 - YWCHSB announces increased enforcement and increased penalties for violations of Occupational Health and Safety regulations - YWCHSB records show that employers' compliance with OH&S orders to correct workplace hazards has been lacking. In 2009, a total of 169 workplace inspections resulted in orders being written but only 49 or 29% provided notice of compliance by the order's deadline. This non-compliance contributes to increased workplace injuries and more claims costs. (Full Story - PDF)

The upcoming release of GrandMaster Suite (6.02) incorporates a number of changes and important adjustments to make it even easier to use the program and perform your payroll tasks. Some of the program changes since our last Payroll News issue include:

• The Customized Payroll Report now includes option to print/export employee template - With this release we have added the options to include the employee's base or default template on a printed report or in an export file. This new option is useful where you make use of the employee templates to modify employee information or rates.
• Email Pay Statements now allows you to include Username/Password for mail client - For users who do NOT have their own company mail server and use another mail client to send or receive email the process to email pay statements was not successful because the email client was requiring a User Name and Password in order to send mail through the mail server. Therefore, we have added the option to assign your User Name and Password when generating the pay statements for email to authenticate the user with the mail server.
• Full Time Equivalency Report/Export added - This release of the software now provides you the ability to export the data from the Full Time Equivalency Report
  

• • •

Visit CanPay's News page and view the latest Release Notes for a complete listing of program changes.

Link Opportunity! - If you are a CanPay customer wanting more exposure for your Website, please send us a 50-word description along with a copy of your logo. We'll add you to our Customer Links page and create a link directly to your website. It 's a great way to expose your goods and services to the community. Logos should be a maximum of 160 x 70 pixels and provided in the .gif or .jpg format. Send your e-mails to admin@canpay.com.

Raymond Biesinger's illustrations have graced the pages of international publications like the New York Times, Fast Company and Neon -- but he remains in Edmonton, working from a home studio.

Since graduating from university and launching his illustration career five years ago, Biesinger has established himself in global markets from the comfort of his home. These days, most of his work is done for European publications -- and communication with clients is limited.

"The people who I have the strongest working connection to are art directors and, by definition, they're very busy people," he says. Communication generally consists of "Looks great!" and "See you next time." Clients leave it up to him to find a concept that will visually communicate a print article, "Which I find completely harrowing," Biesinger admits.

It's a far cry from his university days, when mentors -- usually profs -- seemed abundant. For the most part, he's taken it in stride -- as a student, he was used to working long hours alone, so the transition to working from his home office wasn't jarring.

Nevertheless, Biesinger is at risk of isolation. He stays connected with people in his industry by attending illustration conferences and organizing a monthly meeting of illustrators in town. His mental health and happiness play an important role in how he orders his days, too. "I desperately try to shut work off at 5 p.m.," he says. "I haven't been good at it lately, because I'm working on some labours of love."

Each day, he takes a one-hour lunch break and now and then, takes a splash in the bath mid-day when stress catches up to him. "If my mind's stressed, I'm going to make horrible concepts," he explains. "Momtrepreneur" Susan Easton credits her kids with making work-breaks mandatory. "For me, because I work (and have) kids, for me, my mental health break is, 'Now it's time to pick up the kids, or go for a walk'. "

Most people who work at home, either as an entrepreneur or as an employee, struggle to balance their lives, says the Prince George, B.C.,-based career coach. "Working from home means you're always at work and it's tempting to work too much."

Without co-workers, there's no one to remind you to take a break, or encourage you to consider the ergonomics of your work station, as an HR department might do. Easton says a Vancouver friend who works at home has the right idea: he's purchased a Nintendo Wii and plays the boxing game when clients frustrate him. "It gets him up and moving, even if it's just a 15-minute break.

People who work at home are likely to neglect other considerations too, like hygiene, nutrition and rest. All of these things play a role in your ultimate success, Easton says. She thinks it's best to treat the work-at-home workday like any other. "Treat it like you're going to the office. Get up and take your shower and get dressed," she says. "Set up a beautiful place that you love, which is ergonomic and has windows, ideally, to remind you to get outside."

It's crucial for both your health and happiness, and the success of your work, to continue to meet people and make professional connections.

Having a mentor, or coach, can help, too. Easton recently signed up with a local women's entrepreneur association to find a mentor in her field. The two meet regularly to discuss business issues. Many Canadian cities have similar programs, which can help home-office-types connect. People have different work styles, but Easton cautions that even self-professed introverts need to leave the house.

"Everybody works differently, but no man is an island. If you're in business, and you're trying to remain introverted, chances are you won't be as successful as if you formed those relationships and got out there."

Article Courtesy of Canwest News Service