Overview
Introducing the Workforce Retention and Retraining Program
The Workforce Retention and Retraining Program combines the Work-Sharing Program and the Retraining Grant (formerly the Worker Retention Grant) to help employers retain and retrain workers.
Special measures are extended to March 31, 2028, with expanded eligibility and program flexibilities. For more information visit Canada Strong: Government support programs for workers and businesses.
The Workforce Retention and Retraining Program – Work-Sharing agreement provides retention supports to employers and income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week while their employer recovers. All employees participating in the agreement must experience a minimum 10% reduction to their normal weekly earnings to comply with the terms of the agreement.
A Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing agreement is a three-party agreement involving employers, employees and Service Canada.
Employees on a Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing agreement must agree to a reduced schedule of work and share work over the term of the agreement.
The employer and the employees involved (and the union, if applicable) must agree to participate in a Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing agreement. Then, the employer/employer representative, employee representative and, if applicable, the union representative apply to participate in a Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing agreement.
Agreement duration and extension
Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing agreements must have a minimum duration of 4 weeks and can last up to 26 weeks. If needed, an extension may be requested of up to 12 weeks bringing the initial agreement to a maximum total of 38 weeks. Agreements are not extended automatically. To request an extension of an agreement, an amendment application must be submitted a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the end date of the agreement.
A mandatory cooling-off period must be served once the agreement has ended or has been terminated. The duration of the cooling-off period will be equal to the number of weeks utilized in the previous agreement (up to a maximum of 38 weeks).
Please note that Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing agreements can only start on a Sunday to align with the EI payment cycle. Please consider this when planning the desired start date of your agreement in your Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing application.
Special measures
The Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing may introduce temporary special measures at any time to provide additional support for affected businesses during a period of economic downturn, natural disaster or if a national emergency is declared. The special measures provide targeted support for businesses impacted to recover and avoid layoffs for a specific period of time.
Tariffs
Employers may be eligible for Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing special measures if tariffs have reduced their business activity, or if they are adapting or transforming their business because of tariff-related impacts and plan to provide training and other recovery measures to support their workforce during the agreement period.
If you have any questions regarding the Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing tariffs special measures, please contact our Workforce Retention and Retraining Program - Work-Sharing Employer Inquiry Unit at EDSC.DGOP.DMPJ.PMERMO-WRRP.WDY.POB.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca.