Ontario’s workers will continue to have access to three paid sick days through the provincial government into early 2023.
The Ontario government introduced legislation to give employees up to three paid sick days per year in 2021 with a $200 reimbursement per day, if those workers didn’t already receive paid sick days through their employer and are missing work due to reasons related to COVID-19.
Ontario’s Worker Income Protection Benefit was set to end by July 31, but the program has now been extended to March 31, 2023.
“We want to make sure that employers, and most importantly, workers have a chance to plan their lives around vaccination, without everything being an inconvenience to the cash-flow in the household,” explains Kenora-Rainy River MPP and Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Minister of Northern Development, Greg Rickford.
Ontario says the benefit program ensures employees do not lose pay if they need to miss work for reasons related to COVID-19. Employees can continue to access this paid leave to get tested, vaccinated, self-isolate, or care for a family member.