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ARTICLE · 04 MAY 2021

Ontario Introduces Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
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On April 29, 2021, the Ontario government enacted Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 (Act). The legislation amends the Employment Standards Act (ESA)...

CanadaEmployment and HR
Natasha Hyppolite
Natasha Hyppolite
Conrad Flaczyk
Conrad Flaczyk
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On April 29, 2021, the Ontario government enacted Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 (Act). The legislation amends the Employment Standards Act (ESA) to require employers to provide employees covered by the ESA with up to three paid days of sick leave for certain reasons relating to COVID-19. In this update, we review the scope of the new pay entitlement and corresponding obligations for employers.

  1. What if employees were already entitled to paid leave under their employment contracts?

Employees who were already entitled to at least three paid leave days for certain reasons relating to COVID-19 under their employment contracts are not entitled to additional paid leave under the Act. If, however, employees were already entitled to paid leave for reasons relating to COVID-19, but for less than three days, employees will be entitled to the balance of three days minus the entitlement in their contract.

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