Hello Fellow Contractors!
Regarding the mandatory Working at Heights training - who would be responsible to pay for the course?
I cant seem to find a clear cut answer anywhere!
Is the Employer responsible to pay for each employees certification?
Is the Employer responsible to pay for the certification, plus pay the employee their wage for the hours spent in training?
Is the Employee required to cover the cost since its a requirement of the Ministry, and not the Employer?
In the end the certification belongs to the employee. If the Employer covers the cost, and the employee leaves a month later thats $200 down the drain! (The turn over rate for employees in this industry can be pretty steep too - especially over a 3 year period when the certification would expire!)
If the Employer covers the cost, are they able to include a clause? That if they leave before the certificate expires in 3 years, they have to pay it back?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
I don't think there is a 'rule' for this. So yes the certification belongs to the employee, but the employer has an obligation to hire people with the right certifications / qualifications. So while you are not obligated to pay, if there was an issue your company would be liable because the employee did not have the certification.
We pay in our company for all training and annual certifications. In the long-run Working at Heights is not tons of money ($200 spread out over three years is about $0.03/hr, and even if they leave in a month that is only $1.25/hr to recover). Now in our business, this adds up quickly, trade certifications, mandatory OCOT fees, licence fees, ECRA / ESA fees, mandatory insurance, WSIB, company clothing, safety equipment, etc. So from our perspective we hope the worker will last and only need to recoup the $0.03... the training is a write-off for the company anyway; as long as you are making money.
Cheers,
John Kuehnl-Cadwell
Master Electrician
Datawise Solutions Inc
Yes, working at heights training is the responsibility of the Employer. Not everyone working for you must be trained however, only thoughs working at heights must be. You are liable if something should happen. This is like insurance that help cover you. There could be lots of other training that could cover your ass as well in the future. Sometimes this hurts but the best Companies are the best trained as well.
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