Premier Iain Rankin; courtesy Communications NS
The Nova Scotia government wants people who should be taking sick days to be able to do so without the fear of financial repercussions amidst this third wave of COVID-19.
Nova Scotians who must take time off work due to COVID-19 may now qualify for up to four paid sick days under Nova Scotia’s new COVID-19 Sick Leave Program. The $16 million programs is expected to help more than 100,000 Nova Scotians.
“We want employees to stay home if they are feeling unwell and follow public health protocols to help reduce the spread of COVID,” said Premier Iain Rankin. “Paid sick leave means they won’t have to make a difficult decision between their health and the health of others, or their own financial well-being.”
To be eligible you must not have the ability to work remotely and you have to work at least half of your schduled hours for the week in which you are claiming sick days. Sick days taken between May 10 and July 31 are eligible for the program.
Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 Sick Leave Program covers employee wages, including wages of self-employed people, up to a maximum of $20 per hour or $160 per day. The maximum payment over the 12-week period is $640 per worker. Eligible businesses that continue to pay their employees during their leave will be eligible to be reimbursed by the program.
Based on the time frame of the program and comments from the Premier the program is an attempt to empower Nova Scotians to be able to take all the necessary precautions they are recommending and mandating.
In the release announcing the program they specified that sick day coverage would be offered to those awaiting a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test appointment, and those who are getting tested, are self-isolating while awaiting test results, or are going to get vaccinated.
The provincial government says The program complements the federal Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), however, it remains to be seen how they will interact as in order to qualify for the CSRB an employee must have been off for 50 per cent or more of their scheduled workweek.
The program will be administered by the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council on behalf of the province.
Applications for the program are not being accepted until May 26 but you will be able to claim sick days taken as early as May 10, you can find the full program details through the province’s website.
