Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
New federal grant (launched February 2026) providing weekly per-worker income top-ups that boost wage replacement from 55% to approximately 70% for employers with approved Work-Sharing agreements. Part of Canada's tariff response package. Employers must commit to training for at least 40% of covered weeks, but the grant covers only the income supplement and the employer portion of EI/CPP/QPP on it — the cost of designing or delivering that training is not eligible.
Eligibility Requirements
- Employers with approved Work-Sharing agreements through Service Canada
- At least two eligible employees in the Work-Sharing unit, sharing the available work equally
- Must have experienced a decrease in overall work activities of at least 10% in the last 6 months
- Must commit to training for at least 40% of covered weeks (at the employer's own cost)
- Business must be at least 2 years old
- Project may not exceed 76 weeks and may not be longer than the Work-Sharing agreement
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Weekly per-worker income top-up (boosts replacement from 55% to ~70%); the employer portion of EI/CPP/QPP on the supplement is also covered. Training costs are not.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 70% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Application period: February 16 to December 31, 2026 at 3 PM EST
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Em...
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 5-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThis is brand new (launched February 2026) as part of Canada's tariff response package.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 5
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Em... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Em...