A reminder to employers that the WIPB program has been extended and employers may have to pay employees employees up to 3 days wages as indicated below.
Originally set to expire on December 31, 2021, Premier Doug Ford’s government has announced that it is extending the Worker Income Protection Benefit program until July 31, 2022.
The Worker Income Protection Benefit Program
The program requires employers to provide all eligible employees with up to three (3) paid days off for a range of reasons related to the pandemic, including:
- going for a COVID-19 test;
- staying home awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test;
- being sick with COVID-19;
- getting individual medical treatment for mental health reasons related to COVID-19;
- going to get vaccinated;
- experiencing a side effect from a COVID-19 vaccination;
- having been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19 by an employer, medical practitioner or other specified authority;
- providing care or support to certain relatives for COVID-19 related reasons, such as when they are:
- sick with COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19;
- self-isolating due to COVID-19 on the advice of a medical practitioner or other specified authority;
- providing care or support to their child who is getting vaccinated against COVID-19 or is experiencing side effects from the vaccine.
Employers are generally required to pay employees the wages they would have earned had they not taken the leave, up to $200.00 per day for up to three (3) days.