In response to rising COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant, the Ontario government has extended its COVID-19 paid infectious disease emergency leave program until the end of the year. The program was set to expire on September 25, 2021.
The program, known as the Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Program, was introduced on April 29, 2021, through Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021.1 Under the program, Ontario employers are required to provide their workers with paid infectious disease emergency leave of up to $200 per day for up to three days if they miss work for certain reasons related to COVID-19, such as taking time off due to being sick with COVID-19 or to get vaccinated. The three paid leave days do not need to be taken consecutively, and an employee is not required to provide a doctor's note to substantiate the leave.
Eligible employers are entitled to be reimbursed the amount of infectious disease emergency leave pay that they paid to their employees, up to $200 per employee per day taken.
WeirFoulds will continue to monitor this program. If you need more information about the extension or how this program may affect your organization, please contact Daniel Wong.
Footnote
1 https://www.weirfoulds.com/stay-home-and-stay-safe-ontario-announces-paid-sick-leave-to-combat-covid-19-pandemic#_ftn1
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