Contents:

• Welcome
• Upcoming Events
• What's New
• GrandMaster Update

Welcome!

June 2005 - 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.

Upcoming Events

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 1, 2005 - CRA notice regarding Magnetic Media submissions - The CRA recently stated that a number of submissions via magnetic media were not able to be processed because they dis not conform to the published specifications for filing on magnetic media. The CRA strongly recommends that all submissions be verified using a validating parser before they are filed. Click Here to learn more about troubleshooting and validating your magnetic media file. (Full Story)

June 1, 2005 - New Employment Insurance (EI) Internet service - Effective May 30, 2005, residents of New Brunswick can access the service “My EI Information on-line”. This on-line service allows view of current and previous EI claim information, including payments and deduction details and more. (Full Story)

June 2, 2005 - Important notice about Payroll Deductions Tables - The T4032 Payroll Deductions Tables and the T4008 Payroll Deductions Supplementary Tables effective for July 2005 in British Columbia are now now available on the CCRA Web site. (Full Story)

June 3, 2005 - Government of Canada Introduces Insolvency and Wage Earner Protection Legislation - The Government of Canada has introduced legislation that will provide significant improvements to the protection of employees, notably introducing the Wage Earner Protection Program Act. The Wage Earner Protection Program will protect workers by providing a guaranteed payment of wages should their employer declare bankruptcy," said Labour Minister Joe Fontana. "Meeting the needs of workers is important to the health, well-being and financial success of all Canadians." (Full Story)

June 3, 2005 - Notice regarding theft of computers containing information on some employee benefit plans - If you are concerned that your personal information may have been in files about employee benefit plans contained in computers that were stolen in Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 24, 2005, the HRSC is encouraging you to visit the Social Development Canada Web site for more information. (Full Story)

May, 2005 - Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Statement of Contributions - The CRA now provides an online service that allows you to view and print Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Statement of Contributions. As long as you meet the basic requirements, you can view your history of earnings, contributions to the CPP as well as estimates for any CPP benefits you may be eligible to receive. (Full Story)

Alberta:

May 19, 2005 - WCB reminder to keep young workers safe this summer - For the past seven years, the Heads Up campaign has alerted young workers and their employers to the dangers of being a rookie on the job. This year, the poster campaign brings back some of the best posters from the past – ‘Put the safety on’, ‘Gentlemen protect your tools’, and ‘Why make your first day your last.’ Post them in your lunchroom or on the bulletin board, and help keep young workers safe this summer. (Full Story)

May 25, 2005 - Alberta companies earn over $63 million in WCB premiums - Despite a growing economy and a rapidly expanding workforce, injury rates among Alberta workers are on the decline. In fact, the injury rate has dropped from 4.9 per 100 in 1990 to 2.6 per 100 workers in 2004. That’s good news for workers and more than 5,000 employers registered in the Partners in Injury Reduction program. These employers made safety a priority at their companies and as a result, will share over $63 million in premium rebates. (Full Story)

May 26, 2005 - Award recognizes outstanding employers - The Delta Bow Valley and the Sutton Place Hotel Edmonton are the first winners of an annual award recognizing outstanding employers in the Alberta accommodation industry. The Workplace Hospitality Employer of Excellence & Leadership (WHEEL) award was created by Alberta Human Resources and Employment and the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association. All Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association members in good standing were eligible to apply. A committee of external judges reviewed all nominations. (Full Story)

May, 2005 - Electronic Injury Reporting - eReporting is a great new service for our employers and health care workers. Hundreds of employers, physicians, chiropractors and physiotherapists are enjoying the convenience of filing reports and invoices with the click of a mouse. The Alberta WCB encourages you to sign up for a free interactive training session in your area this spring. Our eBusiness support representatives will show you everything you need to know about how to use the WCB's online reporting services. (Full Story)

British Columbia:

May, 2005 -A partnership that works for students and employers - Opportunities Enabled, formerly called Access Ability, trains people with physical disabilities for careers in IT. Students in the program, which is offered at Douglas College, go through an intense training program that combines nine months of hands-on computer training with a four-month paid internship. They focus on analysis and programming, customer support/help desk work, or hardware and software network support. (Full Story)

May, 2005 - Average Earnings Determinations for Workers Deducting Equipment Expenses from Gross Income - When workers who are paid for both their labour and the supply and operation of equipment are injured, the WCB must compensate them based on the labour portion of their contract(s). The central issue of this consultation is how to equitably determine the cost of supplying equipment in order to calculate a worker's average earnings. The Policy and Research Division has developed a discussion paper on Average Earnings Determinations for Workers Deducting Equipment Expenses from Gross Income (PDF 292kb) for consideration by stakeholders. (Full Story)

May 27, 2005 - WCB sponsors Project Heavy Duty - The Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia (WCB) has partnered with School District No. 60, Peace River North and the North Peace business community to give 35 grade eleven and twelve students the opportunity to learn about and operate a variety of heavy equipment used by the heavy construction industry, in a six day, hands-on experience through Project Heavy Duty, May 27th to June 3rd. (Full Story)

Manitoba:

May 31, 2005 - Close to 800 Summer Jobs to be Available for Rural Youth - Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson was here today to officially launch the Rural Green Team’s summer program. "The Manitoba government supports community development projects that strengthen urban and rural economies, build ties and increase recreation and learning resources for area residents," Bjornson said. "Green Team programs provide youth employment opportunities each summer that mean many youth can spend their summers near home with family and friends while working on important community projects." (Full Story)

May 2, 2005 - Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Launches Project to Reduce Workplace Injuries - To increase awareness about workplace safety, the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) has launched a series of pictorial safety signs designed to reduce workplace injuries in the manufacturing sector among Manitoba's English as a Second Language (ESL) and literacy challenged workers. Approximately 35 to 40 percent of shop floor workers in manufacturing plants in Manitoba are ESL or literacy challenged. Of the total Manitoba shop floor workforce, this would amount to approximately 25,000 workers who could directly benefit from this project. (Full Story)

New Brunswick:

April 8, 2005 - More community college training seats, training programs, higher student summer job wages - Over 220 more training seats and other improvements to the community college system, higher wages for those employed under the Student Employment and Experience Development (SEED) program and more assistance for multicultural groups were among the highlights as the Department of Training and Employment Development released its budget estimates today. Blaney tabled estimates totaling $194,117,000 under the department ordinary account. The minister also tabled a $99,500,000 expenditure projection under the account for the New Brunswick Community College-Special Operating Agency. (Full Story)

May 31, 2005- Ministerial action group for persons with disabilities established - The Employ-Ability Action Group for Persons with Disabilities has been created to address recommendations for improving the labour market participation of disabled persons. Premier Bernard Lord made the announcement this morning at the Legislative Breakfast, an event held during Disability Awareness Week. As part of its mandate, the Employ-Ability group will examine activities that could increase the presence of persons with disabilities in the workforce. (Full Story)

May 6, 2005- N.B.'s unemployment rate 9.3 per cent as 3,300 more people working in April - New Brunswick's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 9.3 per cent in April as 3,300 more people were working than at the same time last year, Training and Employment Development Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney reported today. The employment figures that Statistics Canada released today show that there were 350,900 New Brunswickers working in April, which was an increase from the 347,600 recorded working at the same time last year. (Full Story)

Newfoundland and Labrador:

May 31, 2005 - Increase to minimum wage effective June 1, 2005 - Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, announced today that the first of four incremental increases to the minimum wage will take effect tomorrow, June 1, 2005. The minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador will increase by 25 cents, from $6.00 per hour to $6.25 per hour. (Full Story)

May 10, 2005 - Initiatives will increase access to information about jobs and workers - Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, today announced two initiatives to help address current and future labour market challenges in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Strengthening Partnerships project will provide information on regional labour markets across the province. Regional profiles will be developed through consultations planned for fall 2005 and a provincial labour market symposium in winter 2006. The project will provide information sharing and networking opportunities for stakeholders and will report on a wide range of labour market indicators and trends. (Full Story)

May 10, 2005 - NL Works offers a new wage subsidy program - Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, today announced a new wage subsidy program - NL Works. The program offers profit and not-for-profit employers with a wage subsidy to create new positions. This, in turn, provides individuals with valuable work experience and skills to improve their attachment to the labour market. The program is open to income support clients who are non EI eligible or unemployed and under-employed individuals who are non EI eligible and actively seeking work. (Full Story)

May 19, 2005 - WHSCC releases 2004 Annual Report - The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission has released its 2004 Annual Report which demonstrates continual strong improvement in the workers’ compensation system since the 2001 Task Force Report. (Full Story)

Northwest Territories:

May 2, 2005 - Premier Leads Talks on Northern Strategy and Labour Market Shortages - Premier Joe Handley will lead discussions with Canada’s western Premiers on the Northern Strategy and on the shortages in labour market skills in western and northern Canada. "Western Premiers have been very supportive of the shared goals of the three territories for greater self-sufficiency and economic prosperity," stated Premier Handley. "The Western Premiers’ Conference offers an opportunity to provide Premiers with an update on Northern Strategy activities and highlight emerging priorities resulting from consultations with Northerners." (Full Story)

Nova Scotia:

May 25, 2005 - Nova Scotia Minimum Wage to Rise Again - The rate will rise by 30 cents on Oct. 1, to $6.80 per hour, the Department of Environment and Labour announced today, May 25. It will rise again by an additional 35 cents to $7.15 per hour on April 1, 2006. The last minimum wage increase was in April 2004. The wage was increased to $6.50 per hour at that time. (Full Story)

May 12, 2005 - Workers' Compensation Board Structure to Change - Changes to the composition and structure of the Workers Compensation Board's board of directors will maintain and strengthen its accountability to stakeholders. The proposed amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act, introduced today, May 12, were established by a working group representing employer and employee groups, and injured workers. The group has been meeting with government and the board since December 2004 to discuss and recommend improvements to governance and accountability at the Workers' Compensation Board. (Full Story)

May 26, 2005 - WCB Launches Priority Employer Program to Help Employers Improve Safety Record - In a speech to the Bridgewater Chamber of Commerce, Nancy MacCready-Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Nova Scotia, launched a new program to help companies with poor safety records improve their performance. The Priority Employer Program is a voluntary program offered to employers who have the most potential to improve their safety performance. Workplace safety is an important issue in Nova Scotia. (Full Story)

Ontario:

May 26, 2005 - Ontario Government Introduces New Training To Protect Young Workers On The Job - The Ontario government is helping to protect students with special education needs from workplace injuries by providing teachers with a new health and safety education resource, Labour Minister Chris Bentley announced today. The resource has been provided to all District School Boards for distribution to secondary schools across Ontario. Many teachers are already using it in the classroom, while the majority will begin using it in the fall. (Full Story)

May 6, 2005 - Ontario government continues to strengthen protection of workers - The Ontario government is delivering on its plan to enhance workplace health and safety by proposing to update occupational exposure limits (OELs) for 18 hazardous workplace substances, Labour Minister Chris Bentley announced today. "Last year our government introduced an annual process for updating OELs to ensure Ontario workers are protected by the most up-to-date standards when working with hazardous substances," said Bentley. (Full Story)

May 24, 2005 - WSIB: How Safe Are Your Kids? - The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) launched its second Awareness Campaign aimed at the parents of young workers on May 23, 2005. For the next five weeks, the WSIB is sending out an important safety message to parents, asking them to consider: "How safe are your kids?" (Full Story)

Prince Edward Island:

May, 2005 - WCB Launches Young Worker Awareness Poster Campaign - The Workers Compensation Board launched a young worker poster campaign as part of their North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) week activities. The two posters feature David Collins, an injured young worker, and Jo Collins, David's mother. David was sixteen years old when a workplace accident changed his life forever. (Full Story)

Saskatchewan:

May 6, 2005 - Labour relations board powers moving in line with other provinces - Amendments to The Trade Union Act will bring powers of inspection for the Labour Relations Board in line with five provinces and the Canada Labour Code. The proposed changes will permit the Labour Relations Board to enter premises to inspect records and interview staff in both workplaces and union offices, but do not provide for any right of seizure of documents. Six other jurisdictions in Canada provide similar powers to their Labour Relations Boards - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and the federal government. (Full Story)

May 6, 2005 - Saskatchewan posts job record for April - Saskatchewan's record-setting job growth continues, with the highest April on record for employment in the province. Statistics Canada figures released today show 476,200 people working in Saskatchewan last month (seasonally unadjusted figure). That beats by 4,300 the old record for April set last year. April's numbers represent the 13th straight month of record job numbers in Saskatchewan. (Full Story)

Yukon:

May 24, 2005 - More Employers Join Passport to Safety for Young Workers - The number of Yukon Passport to Safety employers has doubled from six to 12 since fall - showing there is growing commitment to the safety of workers under 25. The employers cover a range of industries: hospitality, construction, recycling and transportation, to name a few. (Full Story - PDF Format)

April 15, 2005 - YWCHSB Launches Consultation: Working Together on Prevention - The Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board is launching a consultation with workers, employers and the public on how all parties can work together to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. The impact of workplace injuries in the Yukon is growing. In 1992, the average length of a claim for someone injured severely enough to miss work was 35 days. In 2004, the average was more than 100 days. (Full Story - PDF Format)

The current release of GrandMaster Suite (4.01.07) incorporates a number of changes to make it even easier to use the program and perform your payroll tasks. Recent program changes since our last Payroll News issue include.

• Employee Payroll Profile report now supports detailed hours - The Employee Payroll Profile report has been modified to include a breakdown of employee hours by earning for each pay sequence. This change relates to the detail report only and the summary report has not changed.
• Option added to link directly to Internet download site - With this release we have added an option to the System Manager dialog Help menu that allows you to directly access the Internet download site providing that you have an Internet connection.
• Payroll Range Report date range confusing - When you printed the Payroll Range Report and selected a specific date range, the dates shown on the report did not accurately refer to the start date and end date of the range. Prior to this change the report would display the sequence end dates as the start and end dates. With this release the Payroll Range Report will accurately display the start date for the starting sequence and the end date for the ending sequence.
• Pay Statement hours truncated showing 4-decimals - A change made on a prior release to display Pay Statement hours to 4-decimal places could result in your Pay Statement truncating employee's hours yet show 4-decimals. With this release we have added a drop down box option to the Selects tab of the Pay Statement dialog that allows you to select the number of decimal places you wish to see for hours on the employee stub. This drop down option sets the decimal places for hours options in the report. (Earning Hours, Earning Hours YTD, Accumulator Accrued Hours and Accumulator Balance Hours) The drop down box provides you with three options 2-decimal, 3-decimal and 4-decimal places with 2-decimal places set as the default. You will not need to make a change to your form if you wish that the statement display the hours to 2-decimals. If you wish that the statement displays the hours to 3 or 4 decimals simply select your option and save the change with the applicable report form.
  

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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.

Work overload takes its toll on organizations, not just on individuals. Organizations are feeling the pain in very costly ways - higher rates of absenteeism and errors, diminished innovative capability, lower employee morale and job satisfaction, and skyrocketing health benefit and long term disability costs. At the Conference Board's May 2003 workshop Wrestling with Workload: Organizational Strategies for Success, participants presented potential solutions to workload woes, ranging from focusing on process improvements and transforming work culture to training in new technologies.

Evidence is mounting that persistent work overload translates into higher stress and poorer health for many Canadians. More Canadians are working longer hours than they did a decade ago, and many are feeling overwhelmed. A recent Statistics Canada study found that more than a third of Canadians cited "too many demands on hours" as the most common source of stress in the workplace.

There is no single reason for employees' burgeoning workload concerns, and no simple remedy. Some employers are developing tools and processes to reduce waste and redundant tasks. Jean Gallant, a project manager at MDS Nordion, told workshop participants that a 1998 company survey revealed that only four in 10 employees felt that they "were given the time and resources to try out new ideas." The culprit, in part, was non-value-added work. The organization implemented a process improvement initiative called "unplugging" where employees meet as groups for no more than one hour on two occasions to recommend revising and even eliminating unproductive processes, with impressive results. By 2001, more than twice as many employees responded positively to the above statement compared to the 1998 survey.

Other organizations honed in on their work cultures, focusing on results rather than on rewarding "face time." An entrenched hotel-industry tradition of long hours and a "see and be seen" culture - particularly for managers - hurt the ability of Marriott Hotels International to recruit and keep great people, according to Donna Klein, its U.S. Vice-President, Workforce Effectiveness. Internal Marriott research revealed that a lack of flexibility was the number one reason for unwanted turnover. In 2000, three hotels in the chain piloted a six-month project that focused on changing the culture. Reducing the perception that "presence equals productivity" helped cut almost five work hours per week per manager, and managers reported lower levels of stress and burnout.

Other examples described at the workshop included training on new (and old) technologies and ensuring that people have the necessary tools to do their jobs. Some organizations are working to improve time management and meeting management. They have implemented protocols to guide the use of e-mail and voice mail - such as copying only those who need to know on e-mail, and not sending long messages and attachments demanding immediate replies.

Conference Board surveys over almost 20 years show that an increasing number of organizations have policies and practices promoting flexible working hours, child care and eldercare, information referral services, and leaves of absence for family reasons. Workshop delegates agreed that these initiatives are a necessary first step in assisting employees in today's fast-paced economy. The next step is to look at how work is organized, delegated and rewarded. An often underemphasized but promising strategy is to concentrate on hiring individuals with the appropriate skills and personalities for their jobs in the first place. A poor job fit is a recipe for high stress.

Article by Judith MacBride-King