by Gloria Welton
The Employment Journey on PEI will remain in circulation for the year ahead, but for now we will provide our monthly editions only online, and share employment-related news through social media.
We hope to get back to providing a printed publication in the near future. Our focus is to provide information to help, guide, and support the workforce of PEI as we all adjust to major shifts.
We want to acknowledge that this is a complex and difficult time as we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unparalleled to anything we have seen, and it continues to present new challenges every day.
It is our hope that you, your families, and communities are getting the support you need as we move through this situation.
We know that as our communities face and overcome these new challenges the cooperation of our local and national governments, municipalities, business communities, organizations, associations, and every individual on PEI is needed.
April publication
Just when we had our April publication ready for print, COVID-19 restrictions hit hard. As a result, the articles needed adjustments in relation to what is happening in the world of work. Therefore, the April issue is only online and the articles we were able to get updated and approval to publish are provided.
Updates on our website
Help available: financial, food, and shelter
Our staff have been following and sharing the news from many sources and updating our website to provide guidance and encouragement to the workforce of PEI.
Financial help– We have seen tremendous financial measures coming from both the provincial and federal government and have listed them and other supports on our website in one place at Canada-PEI financial help in response to COVID-19.
Free Food Resources– There has been an incredible effort to get food to people who are in need across PEI. A very caring and dedicated person provided a list of many places across the Island where free food is available. We have this list, which is updated often, available in one place on our website at Help to get food supplies in homes across PEI.
Shelter – This year began with incredible measures, initiatives, and expansions to support people in need of emergency shelters, because they are without a place to live and need help with their physical and mental health. We now have a list on our website of the places across PEI that help people who are homeless at Emergency shelters options on PEI.
A directory has been created through the collaborative efforts of all members of the Legislative Assembly of PEI. The growing list is community organizations, groups, and individuals from across the province that are willing to provide various supports such as picking up groceries for fellow Islanders in response to COVID-19. You can find the link to the directory at PEI volunteers list: organizations & people willing to help.
PEI jobs: hiring for essential & non-essential services
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our world has changed. Those working in what the PEI government deems as essential services are challenged by work overload and the call for social distancing and heightened hygiene measures, yet they are in constant contact with people.
Those working in what is deemed as non-essential services are either working from home or have been laid off.
In spite of all these changes, we are still seeing jobs being advertised on job posting websites, which is very good news. The jobs are for both essential and non-essential services and hiring to fill jobs immediately or in the foreseeable future.
On March 27, 2020, the Government of Canada announced tremendous support measures to help small businesses keep their staff and maintain their operations during this time. And both the federal and provincial governments have been introducing continuous supports for small businesses, organizations, associations, and those who are self-employed.
We can only hope with the existing and future provincial and federal support measures, staff that have been laid off as a result of COVID-19 can stay connected to their employer, maybe even return to work, and more hiring will take place.
To check out all of the job posting sites advertising PEI jobs, click here.
If you are able to work from home now or in the near future, we have a list of information on our website to help with this transformation. The listing is called Working from home: helpful tips.
The Employment Journey staff are committed to providing the news that can make a difference and which offers hope and encouragement during these turbulent times.
We are consistently updating our website and working hard to bring you another online publication for May. To connect with The Employment Journey staff, email [email protected].