The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges on many fronts for both workers and employers in Canada. To protect and support Canadian workers during this difficult time, on March 25, 2020, the Government of Canada created a temporary leave related to COVID-19 under the Canada Labour Code (the Code).
On September 4, 2020, the maximum allowable length of leave related to COVID-19 was further extended from 24 weeks to 28 weeks to align with the recent increase to the maximum number of weeks a worker is eligible to receive in Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payments. The CERB provides income support, while the leave provides federally regulated employees with access to job-protected time away from work.
The leave related to COVID-19 aims to protect employees’ jobs if, for example, they are:
- quarantined or asked to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19;
- required to provide care to a family member as a result of COVID-19; or
- otherwise unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19.
Please share this message with your members and partners to help us spread the word.
The Government will continue to monitor and respond to the wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19 and will take additional action as needed to protect Canadian workers and stabilize the economy.
Yours sincerely,
Brenda Baxter
Director-General | Directrice générale
Workplace | Milieu de travail
Labour Program | Programme du travail
Employment and Social Development Canada | Emploi et Développement social Canada
Gatineau (Québec) K1A 0J2
Email | Courriel : brenda.baxter@labour-travail.gc.ca
Telephone | Téléphone : 819-654-4410
