THE EMPLOYERS' EDGE
Liberal Government Proposes New Family Caregiver Leave
As part of the Liberal election platform, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty recently announced proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act that would give employees up to eight weeks of job-protected time off from work to care for a friend or family member with a serious injury or illness. The Employment Standards Act currently provides up to 8 weeks unpaid, job-protected family medical leave for employees who need to care for a family member who is terminally ill with corresponding entitlement to EI benefits during the period of leave. The new family caregiver leave would give Ontario employees additional flexibility to care for seriously ill relatives and family while still being able to take family medical leave where employees meet the leave qualifications. McGuinty indicated that the government would work with family care physicians to come up with appropriate criteria for qualifying for this new proposed leave of absence. However, without corresponding amendments to the Employment Insurance Act extending EI benefits for this new leave, many question its effectiveness if employees receive no compensation during the two month absence.
It is anticipated that the proposed legislative amendments will be introduced when the Legislative Assembly resumes sitting in the fall.
The CCP team will keep you updated on this legislative development.
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