MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The Ontario government announced the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL) for workers under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) during COVID-19 is set to expire on July 31, 2022.
IDEL prevents temporary layoffs of non-unionized employees from becoming permanent terminations. This regulation also protects hospitality employers from issuing costly termination or severance pay after the end of the layoff period.
Currently, the government is considering whether this regulation should be extended or not. Previously, the Ontario Restaurant Hotel Motel Association (ORHMA), in collaboration with the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), had called on the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, urging them to defer this layoff recall deadline for hard-hit hospitality and tourism sectors. The associations have recently collected additional feedback to provide to the government since the vast majority of hospitality businesses are now showing growth and recalling their employees. Soon, findings will be shared with government.
