Compensation for Employers of Reservists

Overview of the Compensation for Employers of Reservists program:

CERP is a Department of National Defence (DND) grant program for which the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) provides administrative support. In addition to issuing grants to employers of reservists and self-employed reservists, CERP provides an opportunity to conduct outreach and bring awareness to the business community and educational institutions about the important role, training, and special skills reservists bring to the military and their careers outside of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Benefits of the Compensation for Employers of Reservists program:

• Immediate outcomes:
• Employers are compensated for operational losses when reservists take time away from work to serve on military operations.
• Enhanced relationships with civilian employers.
• Internal and external stakeholders' capability to support reservists is strengthened.
• Intermediate outcomes:
• Reservists' availability for military duty will be further enabled.
• Reservists' ability to balance work, family and military commitments will be better supported.
• Long term outcomes:
• Greater awareness and promotion of the work of the Reserve Force among civilian employers, educational institutions and throughout Canadian communities.
• Improved links to Canadian communities.
• The reputation of the CAF and reservists in communities across Canada is protected and enhanced.

Eligibility criteria of the Compensation for Employers of Reservists program:

• The following criteria determine eligibility:
• You must be a Canadian employer (except for the federal government, federal agencies, and Crown Corporations) of a reservist employee member of the Primary Reserve or Canadian RangersFootnote.
• The reservist employee is being deployed on a Chief of Defence Staff-directed operation or participating in military skills training for at least 30 days, as confirmed by the Canadian Armed Forces.
• Your completed Grant Application Package and other required documents must be provided to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) no later than 12 months following the reservist's return from active military activity (which would include any post-deployment activities that are mandatory, including leave).
• You must be able to provide the required documentation demonstrating that the deploying reservist employee has worked for you for a minimum of 30 hours per week, for 13 consecutive weeks (three consecutive months) before the leave of absence for active military activity.
• Self-employed reservists must provide required documentation demonstrating that the business is real, active, and represents the main source of employment/income for a minimum of 13 consecutive weeks (three consecutive months) before the leave of absence for active military activity.
• Employers whose reservist employees, and self-employed reservists who are deployed for more than 18 months will be eligible for compensation up to the program maximum of 18 months.
• The following can be eligible under the Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program (CERP):
• Employers of reservists in:
• Private Sector Organizations.
• Municipal Governments.
• Provincial and territorial Governments.
• Self-employed reservists who meet the definition of a reservist