Teachers’ Strike: What Does It Mean For Your Workplace?

While talks continue, there is no immediate end in sight for the ongoing teachers' strike. For employees with school-age children, this may mean facing a child care gap starting next week. As an employer, what are your legal obligations and what can you do to make sure work continues while school's out?

The Legal Framework

First, the Employment Standards Act provides all employees in the province with up to five (5) unpaid days of family responsibility leave each year for the care, health and education of a child in an employee's care. Employers do not have the discretion to deny the leave, but can and should ask for sufficient information to confirm the employee's entitlement to it, such as the identity of the person for whom they are caring, the relationship and the reason for the leave. That said, employers should be sensitive when challenging employees' reasons, particularly in the current circumstances.