Work-Sharing program
Government of Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada
Overview
If your employees are eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, and your business is suffering a downturn, you can apply for a work-sharing agreement. The agreement would allow your employees to work a temporarily reduced work week while receiving EI benefits.
At a glance
| Categories | wage subsidy |
|---|---|
| Status | Accepting applications |
| Region | ALL |
| Sectors | general |
Eligibility and requirements
You Do business year-round in Canada for at least 2 years Are a private or publicly held company, a public corporation, or a certain type of non-profit (visit the program website) Have at least 2 employees in the work share unit Tariffs Special measures From March 6, 2026, to March 31, 2027, there are special measures in response to the threat or potential realization of tariffs. More details can be found on the website
How it works
Before you fill out an application, gather some documentation. You’ll need to show that business activity has decreased by at least 10% and you have a recovery plan to return to normal working hours by the end of the agreement. Fill out the Work Sharing Agreement Form and a Work-Sharing Unit Form(s) at least 10 days prior to requested start date. ( Tip: Have your employees read a copy of the employee annex. A union representative will need to sign at the end.) Submit the forms to the office in your region. You’ll receive an approval in writing. Once approved and all parties have signed the agreement, you’ll get login details (in writing) for Service Canada’s Data Gateway. To start accessing the benefits, you’ll need to submit an enrollment sheet and weekly utilization reports through the gateway. Employees are paid directly a few weeks after you submit your first utilization report. Questions? Click Visit the program webstie or call 1-800-367-5693 (Monday to Friday from 7am to 8pm ET).
How Mona Studio helps business owners use this program
Work-Sharing program is one of many Canadian funding options listed in our grant finder. Mona Studio helps general teams translate program requirements into a practical workflow or AI adoption scope for leadership review, grant writers, and lenders. We summarize eligibility and funding here for discovery — confirm all details on the official program website before applying.
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