COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit

The Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) was amended on April 29, 2021 to require employers to provide eligible employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave for certain reasons related to COVID-19. The leave is retroactive to April 19, 2021. Eligible employers can apply to be reimbursed for these payments through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board within 120 days of the date the employer paid the employee, or by July 29, 2023, whichever is earlier. Paid infectious disease emergency leave was set to end July 31, 2022. It will now continue until March 31, 2023.

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Next steps?

Review your current policies and practices related to COVID-19 leaves and temporary layoffs. Update your policies to reflect these changes and communicate changes to your employees.