COVID-19 Update: Sick Leave Entitlements And Employer Reimbursement

A number of Canadian provinces are now offering paid sick leave for eligible employees¹, for absences related to COVID-19. In accordance with these programs, employers are responsible for providing payment to employees during their period of COVID-19 sick leave, subject to reimbursement from various provincial governmental agencies.

A high-level overview of the provincial COVID-19 leave entitlements, as well as how to seek employer reimbursement is provided below.

Ontario

• Leave Entitlement: Eligible employees are entitled 3 non-consecutive days of paid infectious disease emergency leave ("Ontario COVID Leave"), pursuant to Ontario's COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Program. Ontario COVID Leave is payable by the employer to the employee to a maximum of $200 per day of leave, subject to reimbursement.