On April 25 2020 the Ontario government announced it is providing additional support for frontline workers fighting COVID-19. These workers will receive temporary pandemic pay of $4/hour worked on top of their regular wages. In addition, the government will be providing monthly lump sum payments of $250 for four months to eligible frontline workers who work over 100 hours per month. This means that eligible employees working an average of 40 hours per week would receive $3,560 in additional compensation. The pandemic pay will be effective for 16 weeks, from April 24, 2020 until August 13, 2020, and is expected to support over 350,000 frontline workers.
Who is eligible:
The pandemic pay is designed to support employees on the frontlines of COVID-19 and does not apply to management. Those eligible to receive the payment will be staff working in long-term care homes, retirement homes, emergency shelters, supportive housing, social services congregate care settings, corrections institutions and youth justice facilities, as well as those providing home and community care and some staff in hospitals. Staff providing frontline clinical services, along with those providing support services, such as cleaning and meal preparation, will be eligible to receive the pandemic payment. Click HERE to see the full list of eligible workplaces and workers.
Yelich,I. (2020,Apr.25) Ontario Supporting Frontline Heroes of COVID-19 with Pandemic Pay [media release]
