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ARTICLE · 04 MAY 2021

COVID-19 Update: Ontario Introduces Paid COVID-19 Leave

McCarthy Tétrault
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On April 29, 2021, Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 received Royal Assent. Section 50.1 of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 ("ESA")...

CanadaEmployment and HR
McCarthy Tétrault Employer Advisor
McCarthy Tétrault Employer Advisor
Simmy Sahdra
Simmy Sahdra
Sarah Tella
Sarah Tella
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On April 29, 2021,  Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 received Royal Assent. Section 50.1 of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 ("ESA") has been amended to provide employees with an entitlement to three paid days of leave in certain circumstances related to a designated infectious disease.

Employers are now required to provide eligible employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work due to the following prescribed reasons relating to COVID-19:

  1. The employee is under individual medical investigation, supervision or treatment related to COVID-19.
    1. the Ontario Government has released a  News Release indicating this paid leave will cover employees who are going to get vaccinated and/or employees who are experiencing a side effect from a COVID-19 vaccination.

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