Employers must read and adhere to these terms and conditions to participate in FuturePath. Riipen reserves the right to remove or suspend participants for violations.
This article is a general guide to the Riipen FuturePath program. Some terms may vary by cohort. You are required to read and sign the official Terms and Conditions provided for your specific cohort when you join the program.
1. Eligibility Requirements
To participate in FuturePath, I confirm that my organization meets all of the following criteria:
Is a not-for-profit, public sector, or private sector employer.
Is registered and operating in Canada with a valid business number.
Is not a publicly funded post-secondary institution.
Is not a financial sector institution with 500 or more employees.
Is not a member of the House of Commons or Senate.
Does not engage in partisan political activities.
Is not a federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal government entity.
Compliance and integrity
I will not request, accept, or receive any payment from students.
I will not collaborate with friends, family members, or current employees through this program.
I will not create multiple accounts or attempt to bypass participation limits.
All participating entities must be verified by Riipen.
Workplace compliance
I confirm that the project does not:
Replace an existing employee or contractor
Fill a vacancy due to a layoff or labour dispute
Displace or reduce hours for an existing worker
I confirm that the opportunity takes place in Canada or, if virtual, that the student is located in Canada.
Riipen reserves the right to verify eligibility and remove any employer at its discretion.
2. Participation Requirements
By participating in FuturePath, I agree to the following:
Program structure
FuturePath is a co-funded program where employers and Riipen each contribute 50% of student compensation.
I understand that I am financially responsible for my portion of the student compensation upon accepting a student.
Student limits and funding cap
I may engage a student for 10 to 420 hours per project.
I understand that a single student may complete a maximum of 420 hours with my organization within a single funding period (May 2026 to April 2027).
Accountability
I will actively participate in the program and fulfill all responsibilities outlined in this agreement.
I understand that failure to comply may result in removal from the program and cancellation of active projects.
3. Project Requirements
Project Setup and Scope
Clearly define the project scope on the Riipen platform prior to accepting students.
Ensure the project requires between 10 and 420 hours of work.
Students will contribute the following hours per week, depending on the length of the project:
Project length less than 60 hours: 15 hours bi-weekly
Project length 61-250 hours: 15 hours per week
Project length 251-420 hours: 30 hours per week
NOTE: These are project guidelines to ensure that projects will complete within the set 16 week maximum length.
Projects cannot last longer than the 16 week maximum allotted dates.
Ensure all work is appropriate for a student experience and does not require unpaid pre-work or external commitments.
Student Selection and Matching
Review applications and select students in good faith.
Once a student is accepted and matched, the match is final.
All work must be conducted through the Riipen platform. No retroactive project activity will be recognized.
Employer Responsibilities
I agree to:
Provide ongoing mentorship and guidance, including regular check-ins.
Ensure students are completing work aligned with the defined project scope. I will dispute invoices within 7 days with worklogs that do not align with my understanding of the work being completed.
Maintain consistent and professional communication with the student.
Not require students to:
Work beyond agreed hours
Complete unpaid work
Purchase tools or incur expenses
Project Execution
Ensure all work is completed and tracked through the Riipen platform.
Monitor student progress and review submitted work logs regularly.
Notify Riipen using the Flag feature immediately if:
A student is not meeting expectations
There are issues affecting project completion
Completion and Verification
Review and approve student invoices within 7 days of submission. Invoices that have not been reviewed will be automatically processed and taken for correct.
Complete the employer exit survey and provide feedback to team(s) on the platform.
Submit a dispute through the Riipen platform if work is incomplete or inaccurate.
Deliverables requirement
Student deliverables must be submitted in full through the Riipen platform and must clearly reflect the work completed during the project period. Deliverables are required to include sufficient detail to demonstrate the scope of work completed and align with the number of hours being claimed for compensation.
Limited redaction of confidential or sensitive information is permitted; however, all submissions must remain compliant with Riipen’s Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) policy and retain enough detail to validate the work performed.
Employers may review submitted deliverables and provide feedback; however, employers may not withhold, block, or delay submission of deliverables in a way that prevents project completion or impacts a student’s eligibility for payment.
Failure to allow for the submission of complete and compliant deliverables may result in Riipen proceeding with project review and payment determination at its sole discretion.
Failure to complete required actions may result in delays or processing decisions made by Riipen.
4. Student Payment Eligibility
Student payment is administered jointly by Riipen and the employer.
Compensation is set at $23.34/hour, with:
$11.67/hour paid by the employer and $11.67/hour paid by Riipen
Eligibility conditions
Students must complete a minimum of 4 hours to qualify for payment.
Students may be compensated for approved hours only, up to a maximum of 420 hours.
Partial payment is permitted for completed, approved hours.
Invoice approval and Dispute Resolution
Employers must review and approve invoices within 7 days.
If no action is taken, Riipen may review and approve logs on the employer’s behalf.
Employers may dispute submitted work logs if there is a concern about accuracy or completion.
Disputes must be submitted via the Riipen platform within 7 days of invoice creation.
Disputes cannot be submitted after the 7-day window or if an invoice is approved.
Riipen will mediate disputes and reserves the right to make a final determination to ensure fairness for all parties.
Riipen reserves final authority in determining payment eligibility.
5. Stipend Payments and Billing
Payment Setup
Employers agree to provide valid credit card information before projects will be matched to the experience. All credit cards provided will be run through an authorization process to confirm validity. A $1 charge is made and immediately returned once it has been confirmed that the card on file is valid.
Payment details are securely handled by Stripe in accordance with PCI standards. Riipen does not store or have direct access to credit card information.
By submitting payment details, employers authorize Riipen to charge the designated card for the authentication of the card, the deposit for each student they accept for their project and their agreed portion of the student stipend as well as applicable taxes and 10% processing fee upon successful project completion and work log approval as defined in Riipen’s Terms of Service.
Deposits
A deposit equal to 50% of the project cost is required upon accepting a student.
Deposit caps (per student):
Up to $750 for first two active learners
Up to $1,500 for 3–5 active learners
Up to $2,500 for 6+ active learners
The deposit is held in a company wallet and used to pay the invoices you approve. If a learner doesn't confirm their application or the engagement is cancelled later, the deposit will be repurposed to pay invoices or deposits for other learners that you work with, or can be withdrawn if you do not have any active learners.
Payment Processing
Employers authorize Riipen to charge:
Deposits
Employer share of hourly wages
Applicable taxes and a 10% processing fee per invoice
Charges occur:
Incrementally (every 15 hours logged), and
Upon final approval of deliverables
Note: If a learner’s participation in the project ends before the next 15-hour increment, the final invoice charge will be based on the remaining hours logged (e.g., if only 10 hours were logged, the final invoice will be for 10 hours)
Funds will be pulled from your company wallet to pay for the compensation portion of the student invoice, however the taxes and fees portion remain something that is pulled from the credit card on file.
Failed Payments and Enforcement
If a payment fails:
Employer is notified and given 24 hours to resolve
After 24 hours, project work is paused
After 72 hours, projects may be cancelled and account suspended
Employers with three failed payments (including deposits) will be removed from the program.
Continued non-payment may result in:
Cancellation of all active teams
Permanent removal from FuturePath
Restriction from future Riipen programs
Riipen reserves the right to enforce payment compliance at its sole discretion.
6. Prohibited Behaviours
The following actions are strictly prohibited:
Misrepresenting project scope, hours, or expectations.
Attempting to reduce or avoid payment obligations.
Requiring work outside the Riipen platform.
Requesting unpaid or additional work beyond agreed scope.
Requiring students to incur costs.
Using the program to replace employees or contractors.
Working with known individuals (family, employees).
Failing to review or approve work logs in good faith.
Continuing work during a payment-related pause or cancellation.
Violations may result in immediate removal and cancellation of projects.
7. Data Collection, Use and Sharing
By participating in this program, I acknowledge and agree that:
Riipen may collect, store, and use my personal and organizational information for program administration, eligibility verification, reporting, and evaluation.
This may include company details, contact information, project participation data, and payment records.
Riipen may share relevant information with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Government of Canada for reporting, compliance, audit, and evaluation purposes.
Information may be used in aggregated and anonymized formats for internal reporting and program improvement.
All data will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
Participation is conditional upon consent to this data collection and sharing.
8. Respectful Behaviour Agreement
I agree to:
Conduct all interactions with professionalism, respect, and integrity.
Refrain from harassment, discrimination, hate speech, or abusive behaviour.
Support a safe and inclusive environment.
Accept that violations may result in immediate removal.
Acknowledge that Riipen’s determination of misconduct is final.
9. Acknowledgement
By participating in FuturePath, I acknowledge and agree that:
I have read and understood all requirements and responsibilities outlined in this agreement.
I understand that this is a government-funded program with strict compliance and financial obligations.
I accept full responsibility for meeting all participation, payment, and communication requirements.
I understand that failure to comply may result in removal, cancellation of projects, and ineligibility for future participation.
I understand that Riipen reserves the right to enforce all terms of this agreement at its sole discretion.