In response to COVID-19, Staffing UP has expanded to include a wage subsidy option to help employers hire new workers to address emergent government priorities.
The Staffing UP program helps you as an employer to:
- find, hire, and keep workers that are a good fit for your organization;
- train new or existing workers to meet your needs;
- develop workplace supports to accommodate your staff;
- enhance your human resource knowledge and practice;
- get and use labour market information;
- connect with other employers to find and keep workers; and
- hire workers to address emergent Government of Yukon priorities.
Eligibility
We can consider your business for this funding program if you:
- are not a federal, provincial or territorial government, or Crown corporation; and
- provide or offer work to others.
If you have no staff, you may be eligible for support under the Working Up program instead.
First Nations governments
First Nations governments can apply to this program. We also work with them on a government-to-government basis to fund First Nations-led labour market initiatives.
How Staffing UP funding decisions are made
We base approval for funding on matching our priorities to your specific needs. Your application needs to show you need help to find, hire and keep workers.
Our priorities are employers:
- that are seeking to hire post-secondary students planning to return in the fall for critical service jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic;
- with fewer than 20 employees;
- that need help to develop human resource capacity and practice; and
- that are seeking support to hire a member from an under-represented group;
- Yukon First Nations Citizens;
- youth under the age of 30;
- persons with disabilities;
- workers over the age of 50;
- women in trades and technology; and
- newcomers to Canada.
A group is underrepresented if their ratio in the workforce is less than their ratio in the general population.
What can be funded through the Staffing UP program?
Find, hire and keep workers
We provide 4 wage subsidy options for the following situations:
New hires to address emergent priorities
The current priority is to assist employers to hire post-secondary students to fill critical and essential service jobs.
A list of critical services is included in the Direction and guidelines for the delivery of critical, essential and other services in response to COVID-19.
We'll subsidize:
- up to $20 per hour;
- for up to 40 hours per week; and
- for up to 16 weeks.
We'll ask that applicants submit:
- the job title;
- job description;
- a description of the business; and
- wage.
Filling a permanent existing position with a worker who lacks experience:
The maximum duration of 1 year at 60% of the base wage.
Perform a workplace-based assessment of a worker’s skills and interests:
The maximum duration of 8 weeks. All employer costs are eligible.
Provide on-the-job training so the worker gains work experience:
Up to 26 weeks duration. All employer costs are eligible.
Train current and future workers
Providing ongoing training and development to your workers is a key strategy for keeping workers. You’re best placed to know what training will benefit your organization and to identify the best candidate to meet your needs. While we cannot fund normal onboarding training, we can fund training in addition to your normal onboarding offerings.
Apply for a training subsidy for 3rd-party training that will:
- improve the performance of an existing employee in their current job;
- ready an existing employee for promotion or expansion of your business; or
- provide a new or future worker with the skills you need for your business.
We can fund your training at the following levels:
- 60% for an employee not paid while in training;
- 70% for an employee paid while in training;
- 80% for training a potential employee who is unemployed; or
- 90% for training:
- a potential employee who is unemployed; and
- a member of an under-represented group.
Health and safety first
If you receive Staffing UP funding, you will be required to comply with all health directives in the Direction and guidelines for the delivery of critical, essential and other services in response to COVID-19.
You'll need to provide a letter of good standing with the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board if you are applying for a wage subsidy.
How many funding agreements can you get?
For wage subsidies for new hires to address the Government of Yukon priorities, we'll consider funding many positions. Depending on demand, some of your positions might be put on a waitlist. We'll re-evaluate the available budget every 2 weeks and re-consider eligible jobs if funds are available.
For training projects, employers are limited to:
- the lesser of 3 funding agreements; or
- $10,000 in support per fiscal year.
See the guidance document or contact us for more information.
What costs may be funded?
Project delivery
Participant – individuals or employers
- Wages (all or part, depending on which option you select).
- Mandatory employment-related costs (for example EI, CPP, WCB). In most cases, it is the employer’s responsibility to pay these costs. We'll consider paying all or part of these cost for:
- options 2 (workplace assessments); and
- 3 (work experience).
Employer portions of benefits and training costs (including travel)
Operating and overhead
- Payments to instructors, consultants or other activity providers
- Materials and supplies
- Supports related to a disability
- Training costs (including travel) if billed to your business
Administrative
Reimbursement for the use of existing resources for this project.
Read our Staffing UP program guidance document
How to apply
- Contact us. We'll help you develop your application.
- After we've come up with a plan together, complete your application.
- Submit your application.
In person: by appointment
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 867-667-5906
Toll free: 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5906