Ontario offers limited paid leave days

The Ontario government recently announced legislation that, if it passes, promises up to three sick days per employee.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, April 28. The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) program provides limited-time access up to a total of three paid leave days. The program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and will expire September 25, 2021.

According to the government’s press release, the province has also offered to provide funding to the federal government to double CRSB payments to Ontario residents, adding an additional $500 per week to eligible individuals for a total of $1,000 per week.

If an eligible worker learns that they must isolate for longer than 50 per cent of the time they would have otherwise worked for the week, whether because of a positive COVID-19 test or risk of exposure, they may apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit if they haven’t taken a paid leave day under this proposal.

Employers and their workers can call a dedicated COVID-19 Sick Days Information Centre hotline at 1-888-999-2248 or visit Ontario.ca/COVIDworkerbenefit to get more information and updates about the proposed Ontario COVID-19 paid leave days.