Ontario Government Mandates Paid Sick Leave

The Ontario Government has passed Bill 284, "COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021". This bill amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 ("ESA") and requires employers to provide employees with three paid sick days. Prior to Bill 284, employers were not obliged under the ESA to provide paid sick leave. Rather, job-protected unpaid time off was required.

These changes were passed swiftly in the legislature and permit paid sick days retroactively to April 19, 2021. A copy of Bill 284 can be found here.  

The following is a summary:

• Number of Paid Sick Days – Employers must provide 3 paid sick days, which need not be taken consecutively and which can only be taken in day increments.