Ontario Legislature – Amendments to the Employment Standards Act

Today [March 20, 2020], the Ontario Legislature passed the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020 to provide job-protected leave to employees in isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19, or those who need to be away from work to care for children because of school or day care closures or to care for other relatives. A summary of the legislative changes can be found here.

Job protected leave

In addition, Ontario has declared an emergency due to COVID-19. In a declared emergency, an employee has the right to take an unpaid, job-protected leave if the employee is unable to perform the duties of his or her position due to the emergency and certain circumstances apply. More information will be available soon in Your Guide to the ESA.