Nova Scotia relaunches COVID-19 sick days support program for workers

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia is relaunching its paid sick leave program for workers affected by the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in the province.

Under the temporary program, people can qualify for up to four paid sick days if they can't work remotely and miss less than 50 per cent of their scheduled work time in a one-week period.

The program is expected to begin Jan. 10 and will run until March 31 and will retroactively cover sick days starting from Dec. 21.

It covers employee wages, including wages of self-employed people, up to a maximum of $20 per hour or $160 per day for a maximum payment over the 15-week period of $640 per worker.

Eligible businesses that continue to pay their employees during their leave may be reimbursed by the program. 

The program, which originally launched in May of this year and covered sick days from May 10 to July 31, paid out $600,000 in benefits covering 4,000 sick days according to the province.

“People should continue to do the right thing — just as they did during the third wave — to keep our workplaces safe,” Premier Tim Houston said in a news release Wednesday. “Please follow public health protocols and stay home when you are not feeling well.”

The program is meant to compliment the federal Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, which may apply after an employee has been off for 50 per cent or more of their scheduled work week.  

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2021.

The Canadian Press