Bulletin
COVID-19 INFO

18 March 2020

UPDATE OF MARCH 17, 2020

COVID-19 is now having a serious impact in the work field. Following the recommendations and directives of the public health department, several people will either be laid off, in preventive or voluntary quarantine and so on.

We carry particular attention to announcements from governments and authorities to support and mitigate the impact of this crisis on all of our members.

Here are some answers to many questions you may have

1.If I have symptoms of COVID-19, what should I do?

I call at the following number: 1 877 644-4545. They will refer you to the appropriate services;

I notify my employer of the situation;

If I have COVID-19 and have short-term disability insurance, I apply for benefits from my insurer. I communicate with my insurer to make sure of the procedure to follow;

If I don’t have disability insurance, I apply for unemployment health benefits (EI) online at the following address:

https://www.canada.ca/fr/services/prestations/ae/assurance-emploi-maladie/demande.html. You don’t have to wait for your record of employment to apply for benefits;

Two days after applying for your unemployment (EI), call 1 833 381-2725 (toll-free) if you wish to have the one-week waiting period waived;

If you have 3 months of continuous service, you can use the 2 sick days provided by the labour standards Act and/or any sick leave bank according to the collective agreement;

2. I just returned from my trip, what should I do?

Voluntary isolation of 14 days is recommended for all persons returning from abroad since March 12, 2020 or at a later date. These people need to be alert and watch their symptoms;

If your salary is not maintained by the employer, you should apply for unemployment (EI) health benefits online at the following address:

https://www.canada.ca/fr/services/prestations/ae/assurance-emploi-maladie/demande.html ;

Two days after applying for your EI, call 1 833 381-2725 (toll-free) if you wish to have the one-week waiting period waived;

This isolation is compulsory for all public service employees and for all health, education and childcare personnel, private and public, who return from abroad. Because of this requirement, the government has decreed that the employees targeted by this mandatory preventive measure will be paid by their employer during the period of isolation;

3. I have children and the schools are closed, what should I do?

If you must be absent for childcare, notify your employer as soon as possible;

If teleworking is possible and permitted by your employer, you are entitled to receive your usual salary;

The law grants 10 days of absence per year to fulfill obligations related to the care, health or education of the employee’s child or the child of a spouse;

If you have 3 months of continuous service, you may also be entitled to your salary for your first two (2) days of absence taken during the year. Remember that, out of the 10 days, provided by law, only the first two (2) have to be paid. The other eight (8) days are without pay, unless there are superior provisions in your collective agreement;

For workers employed by a health or social services establishment, an emergency childcare service is maintained. The workers concerned are to be informed by their employers;

4. If my employer imposes quarantine on me, what should I do?

To receive your salary, you must apply for unemployment (EI) health benefits online at the following address:

https://www.canada.ca/fr/services/prestations/ae/assurance-emploi-maladie/demande.html ;

Two days after applying for your EI, call 1 833 381-2725 (toll-free) if you wish to have the one-week waiting period waived;

5. If I am not sick, neither in quarantine but my work place shuts down, what should I do ?

I may have the right to a notice of lay off provided by my collective agreement or the one provided by the Labour Standards act;

Also, you must apply for unemployment (EI) health benefits online at the following address:
https://www.canada.ca/fr/services/prestations/ae/assurance-emploi-maladie/demande.html ;

Two days after applying for your EI, call 1 833 381-2725 (toll-free) if you wish to have the one-week waiting period waived;

6. If I can’t have access to unemployment benefits (EI) ?

The government has put in place the Temporary aid for workers program (PATT). This program offers financial assistance to meet the needs of workers who, because they are in isolation to counter the propagation of the COVID-19 virus, cannot earn all of their work income and are not eligible for another financial assistance program;

To be eligible to this program the workers will need to meet these criterias:

they have contracted the virus or present symptoms;

they have been in contact with an infected person;

they have returned from abroad;

they are not receiving compensation from their employer;

they are not covered by private insurance;

they are not covered by another government program, such as employment insurance;

The lump-sum amount granted to an eligible person is $573 per week, for a period of 14 days of isolation. If justified by your state of health, the coverage period for an eligible person could be extended to a maximum of 28 days

7. If the worker refuses to work because of the risk :

A worker has a right to refuse to perform particular work if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the performance of that work would expose him to danger to his health, safety or physical well-being, or would expose another person to a similar danger under the article 12 of the Act respecting occupational health and safety ;

The refusal to work must be based on the criterias established by the public health authorities;

In such a case, you must ask your employer for a statement of employment with indication
E= Départ volontaire » or « N= Congé ». Files will be assessed on a case-by-case basis;

8. How many hours must I have worked to be entitled to employment insurance benefits in the event of contamination and / or quarantine?

  • You must have worked 600 hours in the last 52 weeks;

9. If I don’t have enough hours worked in the past 52 weeks, what can I do?

 No employment insurance can be paid to you;

You may be eligible to the Temporary aid for workers program, see Question # 6 of the present document;

You could use your sick leave, mobile or vacation banks provided for in your collective agreement or under the Act respecting labour standards

FOR ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO YOUR UNION REPRESENTATIVE.