After months of silence, Ontario offers three paid sick days

BY TVISHA MISTRY

After a long wait; It’s finally happening! Ontario residents will no longer have to choose between staying safe and putting food on the table.

With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, it has become clear that measures to ensure both health and financial safety need to be put in place. To stop the spread of COVID-19 and break the chain, we must be able to stay at home when we feel sick without having to worry about renouncing an entire day’s worth of pay.

After months of waiting, Ontario has finally answered urgent calls for the need for paid sick leave by medical professionals, labor advocates, political leaders. The Ontario government announced their plans to provide three paid sick days through a temporary program running from April to September.

On April 29^th, Minister of Labour, Training, and Skills Development, Monte McNaughton, introduced the legislation Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021.

This Bill allows workers in Ontario three paid sick days for COVID-19 related reasons. Employees are entitled to these paid days if they are under medical investigation, supervision, or treatment. This includes receiving a vaccine for COVID-19 and recovery from the associated side effects.

Further, employees can access these paid sicks days if they are following a public health order or quarantining, isolating, or otherwise subjected to a COVID-19 control measure. Additionally, the bill accounts for employees who have been directed by their employer not to work as well as employees that are providing care or support to an enumerated family member.

During their days of absence, employees are entitled to receive the wages they would have earned per their regular day. The bill entitles the worker’s regular wages (not including overtime or premium pay) had they not taken the time off, for up to a maximum of $200 per day.

The entitlement to paid sick days started on April 19^th, 2021, and the end date is currently set for September 25^th, 2021. Although this may change as the pandemic unfolds over the coming months.

“Ontario is very proud of those working throughout this unprecedented time to keep essential parts of our economy and local communities open through the pandemic,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board.

“The government of Canada and Ontario have done a historic job delivering the Safe Restart Agreement last year. New provincial funding would allow eligible individuals to receive a total of $1,000 per week through the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit program if missing work because of COVID-19,”  Bethlenfalvy continued.

“Ontario looks forward to continuing discussions to secure Ottawa’s commitment to administer the program with the top-up to all Ontario applicants. We believe that this is the simplest and fastest way to increase program uptake and make this program more effective for those people who need this program most.”

During employee leaves, employers may apply for reimbursement for amounts paid to employees through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. The guidelines for the application for reimbursement require submission within 120 days of the payment to the employee.

Employers are not entitled to be reimbursed for paid days taken by employees under an employer’s existing paid sick leave or paid time off program or policy, even if those days are taken for reasons covered above.

“Our government has long advocated for the federal government to enhance the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit program to better protect the people of Ontario, especially our tireless essential workers,” said Minister McNaughton. “It is a tremendously positive step that the federal government has signaled their willingness to continue discussions on the CRSB. Now we can fix the outstanding gap in the federal program so workers can get immediate support and can stay home when needed.”