You have always been responsible for conducting reasonable job searches, documenting your job search activities and accepting any offer of suitable employment while receiving Employment Insurance (EI) regular and fishing benefits. The Connecting Canadians with Available Jobs (CCAJ) initiative has clarified the definitions ofsuitable employment and reasonable job search.

Suitable employment

Several factors will determine what will be consideredsuitable employment.

Personal circumstances

For example, job opportunities may not be considered suitable employment if:

• your health and physical capabilities do not allow you to commute to the workplace or perform the work required
• the hours you are required to work are not compatible with your family or personal obligations

To help you determine if you have personal circumstances where employment would not be considered suitable, see an example of an individual’s situation.

Working conditions/wages

For example, job opportunities may not be considered suitable employment if:

• the position offered is vacant due directly to a strike, lockout or other labour dispute
• the working conditions are unsafe
• the wage is lower than the minimum wage in the province or territory where you are looking for work
• the wage is lower than the wages prescribed in your claimant category

Commuting time

For example, job opportunities may be considered to be suitable employment if:

• the workplace is within a one-hour commute from your home – acceptable commuting time could be longer when taking into account your previous commuting history and the average commuting time in the area where you live.

Commuting time is assessed by taking into account the availability of public transportation, access to a vehicle and the commonly used mode of commute in your community.

Hours of work

• all hours of work, including part-time and shift work, hours per day and hours available outside your previous work schedule, may be considered to be suitable employment.

CCAJ takes into consideration your EI benefit payment amount and ensures that only employment opportunities where you are making more money while working than while receiving regular or fishing benefits are considered suitable.

Reasonable job search efforts

Reasonable job search activities include:

• assessing employment opportunities
• preparing a résumé or cover letter
• registering for job search tools or with electronic job banks or employment agencies
• attending job search workshops or job fairs
• networking
• contacting prospective employers
• submitting job applications
• attending interviews
• evaluating your skills and competencies

You must be looking for a job every day that you are receiving regular or fishing benefits. Document all of these job search efforts for the entire duration of your claim. This includes the date, names of employers you have contacted and their contact information, the type of work you were looking for and the results. Keep this information in a safe place. We may ask you to provide us with this information within six years of your claim.

Employers do not need to sign your job search form or provide you with a letter confirming that you have applied for a job. You should never pay for proof of your job search and, if asked, you should refuse.

You are required to make reasonable and ongoing job search efforts while receiving EI regular or fishing benefits. We will take into account the availability of jobs in your community and your personal circumstances when we assess whether you have conducted a reasonable job search.

Source:

via Suitable employment and reasonable job search efforts.

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