Paying an employee who is unable to work due to positive COVID-19 diagnosis

[Daisi]

As an employer do I have to pay an employee who is unable to work due to a positive diagnosis of COVID-19?

• This discussion was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by  Daisi.

[Shraddha]

No, the Ontario government’s amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 confirm that employees are entitled to unpaid leave if they are unable to work due to COVID-19. The employees can use paid sick time or vacation time to cover this period (if available), as an employer you are advised to encourage employees to apply for Employment Insurance (“EI”) sick leave benefits. Many employers are offering paid sick days to employees to cover this time, but this is not legally required. Individuals who are unable
to work due to COVID-19 may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response
Benefit (CERB).