COVID-19 Regulations and Protections: Summary for Employers and Business Owners

Mandating Proof of Vaccination for your Employees
Effective October 1, 2021, public employers will require their employees to make a choice to show proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result at least every seven days. A negative test result is also required for partially vaccinated individuals.

Employers outside the public service can voluntarily opt in should they wish to implement a proof of vaccination or negative test policy for employees. More information can be found in The Employers’ COVID-19 Emergency Regulations.

• Employers need to provide reasonable notice of the policy to every worker by:
• personally giving it to the worker
• posting it in the workplace
• posting it online on a secure website to which the worker has access
• providing it in any other manner that informs the worker of the requirements.

Employers may use a self-declaration process and are not required to collect or retain personal health information. However, employers are required to establish a verification process for reviewing the evidence of vaccination or COVID-19 negative tests provided by their employees and keep this information confidential.

The Saskatchewan Employment Act provides a legal defense to employers where they are exercising a power in good faith that is provided for in the Act or by regulation. No legal proceedings can be taken against a business or organization acting in accordance with the Act or the regulations.

The cost for all proof of negative test results for asymptomatic testing will be the responsibility of the individual. However, Employers can decide to cover the cost if desired.

Mandating Proof of Vaccination for your Customers
Effective October 1, 2021 a provincial requirement for proof of vaccination or negative test is required for public access to a list of establishments, businesses and event venues that bring groups of people together, including:
• Indoor dining at restaurants;
• Nightclubs, bars, taverns and other licensed establishments;
• Event and entertainment venues, including conference centres, casinos, movie theatres, concert venues, live-music venues, museums, and indoor facilities hosting ticketed sporting events;
• Indoor fitness centres, and gyms.

All other businesses can voluntarily adopt this approach if they wish to implement a proof of vaccination or negative test policy for customers.

Current public health measures do not require proof of vaccination for the following:
• Business meetings and places of business closed to the general public, unless otherwise directed by the business or employer
• Retail businesses, including grocery stores
• Fast food restaurants offering takeout and delivery
• Health care services, professional services, or personal services
• Hotels or other lodging
• Private gatherings held at public indoor venues, such as weddings and funerals

It is recommended that proof of negative testing should be provided within 72 hours of entry.

Businesses requiring proof of vaccination will also require ID from anyone 18 and older.


Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test
Individuals who do not have proof of vaccination have the option of providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous 72 hours

A self-administered take-home rapid antigen test should not be accepted as valid proof of negative COVID-19 results. Individuals requiring a negative test result have several private options on the market that will provide a rapid antigen test or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for a fee.

Exemptions from Proof of Vaccinations
Vaccinations are not mandatory in Saskatchewan. As such, there are no provisions for legal exemptions – and there is no standard-issue exemption card provided by the province.

Unvaccinated people have the option of providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test to access a business or workplace requiring it.


Acceptable Forms of Proof of Vaccination
The only acceptable forms of proof of vaccination are:

• A QR code/MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate
• Wallet cards received at time of immunization
• A printed copy of your MySaskHealthRecord (MSHR) vaccine certificate (with or
• without a QR code)
• A screenshot of your MSHR vaccine certificate (with or without a QR code) saved to your device
• An earlier version of your MSHR COVID-19 vaccine certificate
• A COVID-19 vaccine printout from Saskatchewan Health Authority Public Health


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A Message from the CEO

Over the last quarter, summer has come to a close, and autumn is now upon us. This month, WESK was pleased to welcome back WESK Meets, Shaken with a Twist, and Uncorked as in-person events. The excitement to engage in-person with peers and colleagues was evident through the laughter, the energy, and the conversations. Yes, we have missed being in person, however, as we navigate through this transition, we will continue to provide a hybrid model for all our events.

WESK recently wrapped up its 26th Annual General Meeting. I extend our appreciation to all our members for attending, whether it was in-person or virtually. Participation at these events is always encouraged as we value your voice and consider it crucial for the continued success of WESK. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to take the opportunity to read our Annual Report.

Our new Charter Champion initiative continues to demonstrate success and great uptake. We currently have 42 Charter Champions, including the recent signing of one of Saskatchewan’s largest crown corporations, SaskPower. WESK’s Saskatchewan Women Entrepreneurship Charter is an initiative launched by WESK to address the gender entrepreneurship gap in our province. Organizations who have signed on to the Charter have committed to establishing targets that increase their engagement with women-owned Saskatchewan businesses.

In July, WESK and Economic Development Regina (EDR) signed an MOU to foster continued growth in recognizing the major economic contributions made by women entrepreneurs in the province. The agreement leverages key initiatives, including our “Supporter of Women-Owned Saskatchewan Business” brand. Together, we have pledged to develop a strategy to execute recommendations made by the provincially mandated and WESK-led Saskatchewan Advisory Committee on the Gender Entrepreneurship Gap.

Last year, WESK introduced The Exchange, a program designed for women entrepreneurs to scale up their businesses, learn from seasoned experts, and exchange knowledge and lessons learned along the way. After a successful first year, we are poised to launch year two of the program, with 65 women across seven cohorts. I am pleased to report that The Exchange Retreat, which occurred on September 16th, was attended by over 65 women. With regular meetings for this program beginning in October, I am looking forward to welcoming our new and returning participants this year.

While we experience a renewed sense of hope and optimism that the worst is behind us, we all recognize the clash of personal choices, beliefs and ideologies are creating a tenuous environment. To rebuild our economy and our community from the pandemic, we need to come together again and exercise safety and understanding.

Sincerely,

Prabha Mitchell, CEO, WESK

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