Measures to protect your staff and organization from the spread of and Resources for COVID-19.
Measures to protect your staff and organization from the spread of COVID-19
Government of Canada COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool
Staff who are concerned they may have COVID-19, are recommended to use the online assessment tool (most are re-directed to Province-specific tools)
Government of Canada COVID-19 Symptom Self Assessment Tool
WorkSafeBC Manufacturing and COVID-19 safety
WorkSafeBC is working with workers, employers, and industry associations to ensure manufacturing workplaces remain healthy and safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Manufacturing and COVID-19 safety
BC Essential Services
List of essential services in British Columbia during COVID-19 pandemic. Essential services are those daily services essential to preserving life, health, public safety and basic societal functioning.
List of COVID-19 Essential Services
Print Essential
Printing Industries of America (PIA) Resource Information. New channel provides industry with the latest information on COVID-19, including thought leadership on legislation, economic impact, human resources, and safety.
Dave Leskusky Describes Launch of COVID-19 Resource Channel, Evolution of NAPCO Media
Securing your premises
Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers and local police suggest business owners consider measures like these to secure their property while it’s closed during the current pandemic.
Download the PDF
BC’s COVID Go-Forward Restart Strategy
Government of Canada – Awareness Resources
Easy to understand info-graphic documents are available online by the Government of Canada.
About Coronavirus Disease COVID-19
We encourage industry members to make these up-to-date, best-practice resources widely available within your organizations (in printed form when helpful!) as part of the collective, national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
New materials are posted regularly so check back to the Awareness Resources page.
Reduce the Spread of COVID-19. – Wash Your Hands
Know the Difference: Self-Monitoring, Self-isolation and Isolation for COVID-19
COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces
Social Distancing, Quarantine & Isolation
Economic measures announced by the Government of Canada
The Government of Canada has announced measures aimed at helping individuals and businesses through the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Work-Sharing Program
Special measures are being implemented for this existing program as a result of COVID-19. The program allows for eligible employers to retain skilled employees during the temporary downturn in business due to COVID-19. The temporary measures will extend agreements by an additional 38 weeks (for a maximum of 76 weeks), waive the mandatory waiting period and ease the recovery plan requirement.
Access the Government of Canada’s Work Sharing Overview page and the Work Sharing Temporary Special Measures page.
Wage Subsidies for Small Business
In order to help small businesses prevent layoffs, the Government of Canada has proposed a wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of renumeration paid during that period, up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
Access additional information about Wage Subsidies for Small Business
Economic Stimulus Measures, including Working Capital Loans
Announced as the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP), the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) will coordinate with private sector lenders to coordinate credit solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Qualifying businesses will receive working capital loans with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6-months.
More economic stimulus measures are expected in the coming days.
BDC – Support for entrepreneurs impacted by the coronavirus COVID-19
We recommended that businesses, seek guidance from current and prospective financial institutions on all available resources designed to help them weather the economic challenges created by COVID-19.
It is also important to note that there have been provincial and municipal announcements in recent days, with more expected, announcing deferred tax payment obligations to reduce financial obligations placed on businesses.
Affinity Partner (Federated Insurance) – Support COVID -19
Pandemic coverage information and member resources
The spread of COVID-19 is impacting Canadian businesses of all sizes. At Federated Insurance, we’re here to help you and your members during this difficult time.
We know that businesses face many challenges during a crisis and understanding insurance coverage may be a concern. That’s why we’ve developed this guide to help answer questions that your association and members may have about our policies. Please note that the information is specific to Federated Insurance and your members will have to contact their insurance provider for guidance if their policy is with a different company.
We’d also like to share the following resources to assist your members with their pandemic preparedness and business continuity efforts:
COVID-19 Small Business Help Centre
Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
COVID-19: Business Resilience
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Being prepared
Government of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian businesses
Government of Canada, Trade Commissioner Service
Associate Partner (Baseline Processing) – Credit Card Fraud Prevention
At a time when social distancing is profoundly impacting many of our businesses, the last thing any of us wants is for losses to be compounded by the actions of thieves. Unfortunately, it’s during these emotional and disrupted days that many criminals are at their most active. We are all more vulnerable to social engineering attacks during times of stress. In this short message we’re going to address one of the most common and damaging types of fraud: the passing of stolen credit card information.
Let’s start with how to foster a fraud-busting environment. We want a space where employees feel comfortable trusting their instincts and digging a little deeper with customers who raise red flags. In my experience, those businesses that are least vulnerable have two-part systems which provide clear guidance to team members. First, employees are trained to look for suspicious actions such as:
- a customer who’s trying to hurry them through the transaction
- odd demands about shipping timelines or shipping address
And second, identifying fraudsters without irritating legitimate customers. The following strategies strike that all important balance:
- Call your processor before the transaction is processed and ask for a “Code 10”. The operator will then go through a security process to ensure the card is valid.
- Have the customer send a picture of their Driver’s License for confirmation on call-in and online orders.
- Collect CVV codes on all manually entered transactions.
- Have the customer sign & send back the invoice. Include a description of the goods or services on the transaction receipt for all large, card-not-present orders.
- Be sure to use your Processor’s Address Verification Service (AVS).
- Take license plates down on pick-up orders.
Remember that the name of the game is setting up an easily understood, appropriately vigorous fraud prevention system and then communicating it effectively to your entire staff. It’s also a good idea to explain to your employees exactly why these steps are being taken. A team member who understands why they’re performing these actions is more likely to feel a sense of responsibility for protecting the company.
Finally, as PrintForward members, you have full access to the Baseline Processing team. While practicing social distancing we’ll still be happy to help you design and implement a system that protects you without hindering your ability to do business.
Support from Printing Industries of America (PIA)
Video from Michael Makin
President & CEO Printing Industries of America
Mitchel Press – Dispellilng Myths of Print and COVID
While we are still in the early days of the COVID Pandemic, it appears some industries and organizations are making decisions that are not fully informed regarding the viability of print and their response to COVID.
How Effective is Your Cloth Mask?
Most people understand there is a benefit to wearing a cloth mask to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. But with so many mask types available, how do you choose the most effective type? Senior Editor Cary Sherburne digs into the latest research on this topic.
Paper Product Safety
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about the lifespan of the virus on a variety of surfaces, including paper and paper-based packaging products. Some service providers are capitalizing on consumer uncertainty by suggesting or requiring that their customers go paperless for safety reasons. Such a change is not welcomed by many and can be especially challenging for those who have difficulty using electronic technologies or who simply need paper communications, including older adults, people with disabilities, low-income earners and those with no home internet or computers. As information is developed in this rapidly evolving environment, Keep Me Posted North America has compiled the latest available science and guidance related to COVID-19 and the safe use of paper products.
The Truth About Antimicrobial Papers
Antimicrobial paper does not stop the spread of viruses. Viruses require a living host cell to survive. All scientific evidence suggests porous surfaces DO NOT CARRY COVID-19 OR ANY
OTHER VIRUS-RELATED ILLNESS.
Choosing the correct film is key
An Antimicrobial Paper for Challenging Times
et’s face it – with people today afraid to touch nearly anything for fear of infection, selling your clients on menus, business cards and other items designed to be handled by multiple people has become an uphill battle. But it doesn’t have to be. When you use any of James Cropper’s premium sheets specially treated with PaperGard, you’re using paper that reduces illness-causing microbes by 99.9% on the surface of the paper, giving your clients peace of mind, and yourself a huge competitive advantage in the design world.