The Impact of Employment Insurance on the Health of Canadians
1. Introduction
The world is facing an unprecedented health crisis. The pandemic has had devastating impacts on employment, with over 20 million jobs lost in the United States and Canada (The New York Times, 2020). In response to the recession, the Canadian government has introduced a number of measures to help workers and businesses. One of these measures is the Employment Insurance (EI) program.
The EI program provides temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who have lost their jobs. The program has been in place for over 70 years and has helped millions of Canadians during periods of unemployment (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2019a). The EI program has undergone a number of changes over the years, most recently in 2013 when the government introduced EI training benefits. These benefits provide financial assistance to unemployed workers who wish to upgrade their skills or retrain for a new job (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2019b).
In this paper, we will analyze the EI program, its qualifying requirements, training programs, and how it affects the health of Canadians. We will also discuss how the EI program has changed over time and how these changes have impacted the health of Canadians.
2. What is Employment Insurance?
Employment Insurance (EI) is a federal government program that provides temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who have lost their jobs (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2019a). The program has been in place for over 70 years and has helped millions of Canadians during periods of unemployment (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2019a).
To be eligible for EI benefits, workers must meet certain criteria. Workers must have worked for a minimum number of hours in the past year, have lost their job through no fault of their own, and be available and willing to work (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2019a). Workers who are not eligible for EI benefits may still be eligible for other programs, such as the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2020).
Once a worker is approved for EI benefits, they will receive payments for a maximum of 15 weeks. The amount of the benefit is based on the employee’s past earnings and is calculated using a formula set by the government ( Employment and Social Development Canada, 2019a).
In addition to financial assistance, the EI program also offers a number of services and programs to help unemployed workers find new employment. These services include job search assistance, career counselling, and job retraining programs (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2019a).
The EI program is administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which is responsible for improving the economic well-being of Canadians through social policies and programs (Government of Canada, 2019). ESDC works with a number of partners to deliver EI services, including Service Canada, which is responsible for processing applications and issuing benefit payments (Government of Canada, 2019).
3. How has Employment Insurance changed over time?
The Canadian government first introduced the Unemployment Insurance Act in 1940 as a response to the Great Depression ( Government of Canada, 2012 ). The act provided financial assistance to unemployed workers and their families through a system of payroll taxes and government-funded benefits ( Government of Canada, 2012 ).
The program underwent a number of changes over the years, most notably in 1971 when the government replaced the Unemployment Insurance Act with the Employment Insurance Act ( Government of Canada, 2012 ). The new act broadened the eligibility requirements and increased the benefit payments for unemployed workers ( Government of Canada, 2012 ).
The program was again revised in 1996 when the government introduced changes to the eligibility requirements, benefit payments, and job search assistance services (Government of Canada, 2012). The most recent changes to the program were introduced in 2013 when the government introduced EI training benefits (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2019b).
4. How does Employment Insurance affect the health of Canadians?
The EI program has a number of impacts on the health of Canadians. These impacts vary depending on a number of factors, such as gender, age, and job type.
4. 1 Women’s health
Women are more likely than men to rely on EI benefits during periods of unemployment (Baker & Daku, 2009). This is due to a number of factors, such as women’s lower average earnings, greater likelihood of working in part-time or temporary jobs, and greater responsibility for childcare and other family responsibilities (Baker & Daku, 2009).
The increased reliance on EI benefits among women can have a number of negative impacts on their health. Women who receive EI benefits are more likely to experience mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression (Baker & Daku, 2009). They are also more likely to experience financial stress and material hardship (Baker & Daku, 2009).
4. 2 Men’s health
While men are less likely than women to rely on EI benefits during periods of unemployment, they are more likely to experience longer spells of unemployment (Baker & Daku, 2009). This is due to a number of factors, such as men’s higher average earnings, which make it easier for them to find new employment after a period of unemployment (Baker & Daku, 2009).
The increased duration of unemployment among men can also have a number of negative impacts on their health. Men who are unemployed for long periods of time are more likely to experience mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression (Baker & Daku, 2009). They are also more likely to engage in risky health behaviours, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption (Baker & Daku, 2009).
5. Conclusion
The EI program is a vital social safety net that provides financial assistance and employment services to unemployed workers. The program has helped millions of Canadians during periods of unemployment and has played a key role in reducing poverty and improving the health of Canadians.