On December 19, Bill 229, the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024, received Royal Assent. This legislation introduces two new unpaid leaves of absence under the Employment Standards Act, 2000: Placement of a Child Leave (not in effect yet) and Long-Term Illness Leave.
On February 12, 2025, the Ontario government confirmed that the long-term illness leave would become effective on June 19, 2025. This provision allows employees with a serious medical condition to take up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Key details include:
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Eligibility: Employees must have at least 13 consecutive weeks of employment with their employer.
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Medical Certification: A certificate from a qualified health professional stating the existence of a serious medical condition and the expected duration of the employee's inability to perform their duties is required.
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Leave Duration: The leave can extend up to 27 weeks. If the medical certificate specifies a shorter period, the leave corresponds to that timeframe.
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Flexibility: Employees may take the leave in non-consecutive periods, provided the total leave does not exceed 27 weeks within a 52-week timeframe from the start of the leave.
Employers should update their leave policies/collective agreements to align with this new regulation, which will provide employees with sufficient time to recover from serious health conditions without the risk of job loss.