As of July 10, 2020, the unpaid, job-protected leave for federally regulated employees who are unable or unavailable to work due to COVID-19 has been extended from 16 weeks to 24 weeks.
This extension aligns with the increase to the number of weeks for which a worker may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (“CERB”). As discussed in our recent blog, as of June 16, 2020, individuals who have stopped working due to COVID-19 now have access to the CERB for a period of 24 weeks, rather than 16 weeks.
This leave is available to employees who are unable to work because they have been quarantined or asked to self-isolate due to COVID-19, are required to care for a family member as a result of COVID-19, or are otherwise unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19.To be eligible to take the leave, employees are required to provide written notice to their employer of the reason for and intended length of the leave, as well as any changes to the length of the leave, as soon as possible.
The leave is not retroactive, and it will be repealed on October 1, 2020.
This blog is provided as an information service and summary of workplace legal issues. This information is not intended as legal advice.