The Ontario Government has amended Ontario Regulation 228/20: Infectious Disease Emergency Leave Regulation in order to extend employee entitlements to paid sick days due to COVID-19. Previously, paid sick day entitlements were set to expire on July 30, 2022, while the new amendments extend this entitlement to March 31, 2023.
Employees may be entitled to paid sick days if they need to take time off work due to reasons related to COVID-19, which may include leave to obtain a COVID-19 test, to self-isolate, to provide care and support to relatives with COVID-19, or for other reasons related to COVID-19. In all cases, employees are entitled to up to three paid days off work.
Ontario employers should note that employees may be entitled to unpaid leave in addition to paid leave due to COVID-19 depending on the particular circumstances.
Payment for each sick day is based on either the employee’s wages that they would have earned had they not taken the sick leave or $200.00, whichever sum is smaller. Employers who provide paid sick days may be eligible for reimbursement of the payment through the WSIB at the following link: https://ontario-covid19-worker-income-protection-benefit.ca/en
We at Bridge Legal & HR Solutions are more than happy to assist you with any of your employment needs, including with COVID-19 related leaves. If you have any questions about employment law, human rights, workplace investigations, human resources, or immigration law. Contact Bridge Legal & HR Solutions at 647-794-5442 or at admin@bridgelegalhr.ca, we are here to bridge the gaps for you.
