Ontario’s temporary changes to layoff regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic have been called helpful by supporters of small business but advocates for low-wage workers characterize the change as unhelpful.
The province made an amendment to its infectious disease emergency leave regulation which it claims will protect businesses from incurring “unsustainable termination costs” when reducing their staff due to lack of business during the novel coronavirus the pandemic.
The changes come under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) which now deems non-unionized employees who’ve had hours reduced or eliminated due to COVID-19 on infectious disease emergency leave, potentially avoiding termination and a severance payout from an employer.