COVID-19 Update: July 16, 2020
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here’s what you’ll find inside today’s update:
Important: how to access wholesale pricing on July 20
Hospitality Product Catalogue: Training Video and Sample Hospitality Price List
BC Government proposes significant changes to Workers’ Compensation Act
Save the date: BC Liquor Conference is going virtual
Reminder: Liquor Primary Reopening Protocols and Best Practices
Find all past updates from ABLE BC here.
As always, if you have any additional questions or need to reach us you can email: jeff@ablebc.ca or danielle@ablebc.ca.
Important: how to access wholesale pricing on July 20
Attention: Pubs, Bars, and Restaurants
Beginning Monday, you’ll be able to purchase liquor at wholesale price. You will not know the wholesale price if you don’t register for a Hospitality Product Catalogue account before July 20th.
Given the volume of registrations in a short period of time the processing time to activate accounts is expected to take up to 10 to 15 days.
Wholesale prices will NOT be visible in BC Liquor Stores. Only retail prices will continue to be posted on BCLS shelves and the BCLS website.
How to register:
Complete a registration form: download it HERE
Email your completed registration form to the LDB Wholesale Customer Centre: wholesalehelp@bcldb.com
What do I need to register for an account?
Hospitality licensee ID number
Unique email address
Note: Hospitality customers with Web Store accounts will have automatic access to wholesale prices via Web Store on July 20th and do not need to register for any additional accounts.
Register for your account now.
What is the Hospitality Product Catalogue?
The Hospitality Product Catalogue is your access to wholesale pricing. It is designed for pubs, bars, and restaurants purchasing from the Wholesale Customer Centre and BC Liquor Stores.
The catalogue provides product search capabilities and features the SKU, product name, price, case configuration, alcohol content, and the representing agent plus additional product attributes.
Where can I learn more?
Visit the LDB Hospitality Product Catalogue page
Read the FAQs for the Hospitality Product Catalogue Onboarding Process
Download the BCLS Serviced Hospitality Customer Handbook
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca or 604-688-5560.
Hospitality Product Catalogue: Training Video and Sample Hospitality Price List
As of July 20, pubs, bars, and restaurants will be able to purchase liquor at wholesale price.
The LDB is implementing two phases of system changes to put this into effect:
The first phase of the systems changes will be delivered by July 20, when hospitality customers will be able to buy liquor at wholesale prices.
From July 20 through to September 1, a searchable hospitality price list (MS Excel format) will be posted to the Hospitality Product Catalogue as an interim measure to assist hospitality customers with their purchasing decisions until the Catalogue resumes its full functionality on September 1, 2020.
The second phase will be completed by September 1, 2020 and will provide hospitality customers access to the wholesale price list through the fully functioning Hospitality Product Catalogue.
Sample Price List and Training Video:
To help hospitality customers become familiar with the hospitality price list, a sample hospitality price list with NO pricing information as well as a training video and FAQs are now available in the Hospitality Product Catalogue.
Hospitality licensees with active Hospitality Product Catalogue accounts can log into their accounts to view the training video and become familiar with the sample hospitality price list.
For more information, please read this update from LDB Wholesale.
If you haven’t signed up for a Hospitality Product Catalogue account, please do so immediately.
BC Government proposes significant changes to Workers Compensation Act
Earlier this week, the BC government announced proposed changes to the Workers Compensation Act.
The proposed changes “focus on improving supports for injured workers, while also advancing worker safety.”
The key changes include:
raising the maximum annual salary amount on which workers’ compensation benefits are based from $87,100 to $100,000
authorizing WorkSafeBC to provide preventative medical treatment before a claim is accepted
giving powers to the court to issue WorkSafeBC search and seizure warrants that are appropriate for investigating workplace safety infractions
giving people a voice in serious workplace prosecutions and trials by using victim impact statements
Government says: “This legislation will fast-track the effective date of presumptions if established by WorkSafeBC’s board of directors for occupational diseases caused by viral pathogens.
The presumption would simplify the process for workers who make a workers’ compensation claim if they contract viruses on the job. This would ensure that people who are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 at work are able to access benefits more quickly.”
Note about deferred premiums:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, WorkSafeBC is allowing businesses to defer paying their premiums for six months without penalty or interest. As well, WorkSafeBC is waiving premiums on wages paid to workers of employers receiving the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy for the duration of the program.
For more information on the proposed changes, please read the BC Government News Release and backgrounder that follows.
What do these proposed changes mean for employers?
Employment lawyers at Mathews Dinsdale write: “The primary effect of these amendments will be that employers can expect increased premiums. However, there are other proposals – for example, imposing liability on corporate directors for unpaid premiums – that may have other substantial impacts on employers.”
In this new article, Mathews Dinsdale summarizes the potential increased costs to employers.
For more information on how these proposed changes may impact employers, please read: ‘BC Government Proposes Significant Changes to Workers’ Compensation Act.’
WorkSafeBC looking for feedback on proposals
WorkSafeBC will be holding a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation to be streamed live on September 30, 2020.
The hearing will be streamed in two sessions, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Details on how to view or participate in the virtual public hearing will be posted on this webpage by September 1, 2020.
ABLE BC will provide more updates on this issue as it develops.
Save the date: BC Liquor Conference is going virtual
The BC Liquor Conference is back for a fifth year this fall and we’re going virtual!
Save the Date: hosted by ABLE BC, this year’s conference will take place via Zoom from Monday, October 19 to Friday, October 23, 2020.
No matter where you are in the province – tune in and get the liquor industry data, trends, and policy updates you can’t get anywhere else.
Early bird registration opening soon. Stay tuned!
Conference Theme: adapt and survive COVID-19
This year has been unbelievably challenging for many businesses. BC’s hospitality industry was hit first – and hit hardest – by the COVID-19 pandemic. The liquor industry has been forced to adapt, adopt new technologies, and drastically change in this new normal, while complying with new regulations.
Unfortunately, this crisis is far from over. But together, we will weather this storm. Join us at the 2020 Virtual BC Liquor Conference and get the actionable steps and knowledge you need to adapt and survive COVID-19.
What to expect:
Twice daily Zoom calls from October 19 to October 23: educational seminars, keynote talks, and virtual Happy Hours
Industry data, trends, and policy updates
Actionable steps and knowledge you need to adapt and survive COVID-19
Access to government and industry experts
Virtual networking opportunities
Opportunity to connect and share ideas and best practices with fellow industry leaders
Early bird registration opening soon. Stay tuned!
Reminder: Liquor Primary Reopening Protocols and Best Practices
With the recent warning about a potential COVID-19 exposure in downtown Kelowna and the waterfront (including at some bars and restaurants), here’s a reminder of the COVID-19 protocols your establishment should have in place:
Ensure your business is in compliance with the Provincial Health Officer Public Order
Ensure your business is following the reopening protocols laid out by WorkSafeBC
Create and implement your COVID-19 safety plan
Post your occupancy limit: use this template
Have a copy of your COVID-19 safety plan available at your establishment and ready to present to a WorkSafeBC inspector
Communicate your safety plan and the changes you are making with your employees and customers: see page 20 of our Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices Handbook for a checklist of marketing ‘to-dos’
Implement additional best practices to ensure the health and safety of your employees and customers: see section 3 of our Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices Handbook
Use our templates and post our sample signage to help communicate these new best practices: download for free in our online store
Find all ABLE BC COVID-19 resources here.
We’ll be providing further education on complying with protocols in the coming weeks.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca or 604-688-5560.