Uptake of temporary paid sick days shows importance of accessibility

Last week, the lower than expected uptake of Ontario’s temporary paid sick days hit the news. The truth is that despite the many inadequacies of the Worker Income Protection Benefit (WIPB), the latest data confirmed that at least 39,887 workers accessed paid sick days under the program. These are workers that were able to stay home from work to get vaccinated or tested and would otherwise not have been able to do so. 

But, we’ve also heard from patients that the lack of seamless accessibility is a barrier. Many workers may not be accessing paid sick days under the WIPB due to fear of reprisal or job loss. This is why protections for temp agency workers, Status for All, and adequate enforcement are so important.

While it’s too soon to draw firm conclusions from available data (employers have 120 days to submit claims), it does show that concerns about workers abusing the program were unfounded. Workers have taken an average of 1.8 of the 3 available days. You can read more about the uptake of the WIPB in this twitter thread or in this CBC article that highlights an interview with Dr. Gaibrie Stephen.

Tomorrow is the last day the Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee will be taking recommendations. The committee has been tasked with making recommendations “to shape the future of work in our province.” But, there is no representation of workers or worker advocates on the committee.

Making matters worse, this process is widely understood to be a response to app-based companies lobbying for a sub-standard classification of workers. For example, Uber launched its "Flexible Work+" campaign -- modelled after Proposition 22 in California, which stripped app-based workers of employment status and protections.

This would be devastating for the health of workers if it happened here in Ontario. The pandemic has taught us that labour standards are health standards. It’s time to end misclassification, not incentivize substandard working conditions. Workers need universal access to employment rights, including paid sick days, decent wages, and health and safety.

This is why we need health workers to show their support for the priorities workers put forward to the Committee. We’ve created a quick e-mail tool, so that you can add your voice to the recommendations submitted by the Workers’ Action Centre and Parkdale Community Legal Services (available here). You can edit the message or send it as-is. Please join me in sending an email by clicking here.

In solidarity,

Denise Martins
DWHN Coordinator