Employment Standards

Changes to Employment Standards Act, 2000 rules

Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit

On April 29, 2021, the Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Benefit came into effect and the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) was amended.  Employers are now required to provide eligible employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave because of certain reasons related to COVID-19. Eligible employers must make their application for reimbursement to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board within 120 days of the date the employer paid the employee.

Emergency declaration terminated

The emergency that was declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act because of COVID-19 on April 7, 2021 is over.  During a declared emergency, an employee may have had a right under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to take declared emergency leave, which is an unpaid, job-protected leave of absence. Learn more.

Temporary ESA rules continue

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government made a regulation that changed certain Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) rules during the COVID-19 period. The temporary rules continue to be in effect until September 25, 2021. Learn more.