In the wake of COVID-19, the various levels of government are implementing several measures to help businesses go through this crisis. Among these, the Legault government announced yesterday the establishment of a fund of 100M over a period of 6 months to implement the "Programme actions concertées pour le maintien en emploi" (PACME).
Essentially, this program seeks to develop skills to sustain our economy by retaining in employment as many employees as possible, but also to ensure economic recovery as quickly as possible. In addition, the PACME complements the Government of Canada’s announced subsidies: the Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Temporary Wage Subsidy.
Realistically, the objective of the PACME is to support training and human resources management activities. Here is an overview of eligible training activities:
- Basic employee training;
- Francization;
- Digital skills training;
- Ongoing training related to company activities, whether directly related to the position occupied by the trained employee or not;
- Training recommended by professional bodies;
- Training required for business resumption;
- Training related to a strategy to adjust or modify business activities in the context of economic uncertainty related to COVID-19, which helps maintain or diversify business activities (health, telework, etc.);
- Training to retrain workers.
For the Human Resources Management (HRM) component, the eligible activities are the following:
- Diagnosis of human resources function and, if applicable, other functions;
- HRM consultation mandates (ex.: organizational communications, telework policy, employee engagement, workforce planning for business continuity and resumption, activity diversification support);
- Coaching and management skills development.
In order to support businesses, PACME will reimburse companies for the following amount:
- 100% of expenditures of $100,000 or less;
- 50% of expenditures between $100,000 and $500,000.
Eligible expenditures are as follows:
- Reimbursement of salaries:
- 25% of the wage bill for workers in training (maximum eligible $25 per hour) if the company receives Canada’s emergency wage subsidy of 75%;
- 90% of the wage bill of workers in training, if the company receives Canada’s temporary wage subsidy of 10%;
- 100% of salaries of workers in training, if the company receives no federal wage subsidy.
- Professional fees for consultants or trainers up to $150 per hour;
- Reimbursement of up to 100% of training expenses, related expenses and costs related to human resources management activities, according to applicable schedules (ex.: professional fees).
Please note that PACME projects can be of varying duration of a few days, weeks or months depending on the needs identified.
In closing, we would like to inform you that projects will be accepted until September 30, 2020 or until the $100 million envelope is exhausted.
For more information or if you are interested in training initiatives or the Human Resources Management component, please contact Stéphane Pépin, Director HR Strategies and Consultation Services at spepin@bedardresources.com or at 514 235-3484.
To learn more about the PACME, we invite you to visit the full program on the provincial government website by clicking here.
List of Available Trainings
- The Basics of Managing Remotely
- Communicating & Connecting Remotely
- Remote Performance Management
- Leading Remote Teams
- Leadership in Times of Crisis
- Build your Resilience
- Transform your In-Person Trainings into Remote Trainings
- Train the Trainer
- Enhance Your Employees Well-Being
- Develop your Emotional Intelligence
- Effective Influencing Skills
- Leading to Motivation and Performance
- Leading Change
- Overcome Communication Barriers
- The Keys to Collaboration in a Changing World
- Stress Management
- Difficult Conversations
- Understanding our Differences to Collaborate
- Collaborate Between Generations
- The Art of Negotiation
- Introduction to Customer Services and Business Development
- Introduction to Work Permits
- Discipline Management
- Manager's Basic Rules
- Performance Management
- Absenteeism Management
- Psychological Harassment
- Supervisor – Occupational Health and Safety Floor Management
- OHS Basic Principles
- Accident Investigation and Analysis
