Ontario introduces 'most generous' paid sick leave due to COVID
The government has provided a number of reasons for employees to stay at home without losing their pay.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has promised the public "one of the best" paid sick leave programs in North America because of COVID-19. This comes after months of pressure on the provincial government.
"Ontario's COVID-19 Employee Income Protection Program" will allow employees affected by COVID to receive 3 days of sick leave, and it does not have to be 3 consecutive days. The government will reimburse employers for 100% of an employee's salary up to $200 CAD per day.
There are a number of reasons for taking sick leave:
- testing on COVID-19;
- self-isolation while waiting for the test result;
- disease or symptoms of COVID-19;
- vaccination against COVID-19;
- side effects after vaccination;
- Self-isolation on the recommendation of an employer, doctor or other authority figure;
- Care for a relative who is ill or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or who is self-isolated.
An employer may not require a certificate from a doctor or nurse as proof that an employee needs sick leave.
It should be noted that only employees who are considered "employees" under the Employee Standards Act can get sick leave. For example, independent contractors, volunteers, and those who are interned by a college or university are not employees.
The program will be valid until September 25, 2021. At the moment it has not yet come into force, so it is not possible to apply yet.
Although paid leave because of COVID-19 has been made longer in Ontario than in other provinces (1 day in Prince Edward Island and 2 days in Quebec), the program has been criticized because public health units can force a person to be on self-isolation for 10-14 days rather than 3.
