Revised December 9th, 2021 - This program has been extended to July 31, 2022.
On Thursday, April 29, 2021, Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, will introduce legislation that would, if passed, require employers to provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work because of COVID-19. This program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and effective until September 25, 2021, (extended to July 31, 2022).
By providing time-limited access to three paid leave days, the province is ensuring employees can pay their bills as they help stop the spread of the virus, including by getting tested, waiting for their results in isolation or going to get their vaccine. The province will partner with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to deliver the program and reimburse employers up to $200 per day for each employee.
Employer reimbursement for paid leave
If the legislation is passed, eligible employers would be able to apply for a reimbursement of up to $200 per employee day taken, from the Ontario government. If the employee’s regular rate of pay is less than $200 day, the employer will only be eligible for a reimbursement of the employee’s regular rate of pay.
As an employer, you may be eligible to be reimbursed for payment up to a maximum of $200 per day for up to three (3) days per employee, made to an employee for paid infectious disease emergency leave taken under subsection 50.1.1(1.2) of the ESA. This could include when an employee is:
Going for a COVID-19 test
Staying home awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
Being sick with COVID-19
Getting individual medical treatment related to COVID-19
Going to get vaccinated
Experiencing a side effect from a COVID-19 vaccination
Having been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19 by an employer, medical practitioner or other specified authority
Providing care or support to certain relatives for COVID-19 related reasons, such as when they are sick with COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19 on the advice of a medical practitioner or other specified authority
An employer is not entitled to be reimbursed for payments made to an employee for paid leave taken under subsection 50.1 (1.2) if the employee received benefits under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 for the days of leave.
Eligible employers would need to make their application for reimbursement within 120 days of the paid leave.
Eligible employers would need to make their application for reimbursement within 120 days of the paid leave. More information on how employers can apply is found here;
Copyright @2021
Peter Wiesner CPA, CA
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