The Provincial Government is providing compensation for private sector employers for continuation of pay to employees who were required to self-isolate for 14-days due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions. This includes individuals who are self-employed.

The Government of Canada recently announced supports for businesses whose work has been impacted by the pandemic, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). The CEWS provides employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with reimbursement for wages paid to staff up to 75 per cent of the amount paid to a maximum of $847 per week per employee.

Employers should apply for any available federal funding under the CEWS or the Temporary Wage Subsidy program. The maximum amount of funding under the provincial program will be $500 per week for each employee (to a combined maximum of $1,000 per week for each employee when receiving both federal and provincial funding). The amount paid under this program will depend on federal funding received.

The criteria to qualify for the compensation can be found in the backgrounder below. Qualifying employers can submit an application to the Department of Finance’s Tax Administration Division.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19. For general inquiries related to available government services, please email covid19info@gov.nl.ca.

Quotes
“We appreciate the stress that this global pandemic is having on businesses and those required to self-isolate. Our priority at the outset was to ensure that nobody had to choose between protecting the public health and getting paid. This program will take employers a step closer to easing some of the burden they and their staff have faced.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“This program will reimburse private sector employers, including the self-employed, for continuation of pay for employees who were required to self-isolate following their return from out-of-province travel due to the COVID-19 restrictions. We took time to evaluate federal programming to ensure that there was no overlap and that the needs of citizens are met. Our focus remains on ensuring that individuals are compensated for the requirement to self-isolate.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

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Employer Compensation for Workers in Self-Isolation due to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

Provincial Government to Provide Compensation to Workers in COVID-19 Self-Isolation 

Media contacts
Jeremy Reynolds
Office of the Premier
709-729-3558
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca

Chrysta Collins
Finance
709-730-1568
chrystacollins@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

To qualify for provincial compensation, the following criteria must be met:

Employers should apply for federal funding;

• International travel must have originated on or before March 14 with arrival into Newfoundland and Labrador on or after March 14 and interprovincial travel must have originated on or before March 20 with arrival into Newfoundland and Labrador on or after March 20. This applies to individuals who travelled for personal or professional reasons;
• Reimbursement is only for employees who are residents of Newfoundland and Labrador for pay between the period when an employee is scheduled to return to work and the end of the 14-day isolation period; and
• Employers with employees who work part-time/shift work, but were not scheduled to work during the isolation period due to the timing of when a schedule is set can avail of compensation based on the average weekly hours worked in the preceding month. Proof of this prior compensation will be required.

Compensation assistance will not apply in the following circumstances:

• If an employee is/was able to work from home while in isolation. Employers will not be compensated for employees who are working during their period of self-isolation;
• If an employee is/was scheduled to use vacation/leave days during the period of isolation. Employees would be expected to use this leave or any other special leave with pay that is available before applying for this program;
• Compensation through this program is only available for individuals who have travelled and were self-isolating, compensation will not be provided for others in the household; and
• Any individual who falls ill or is diagnosed with COVID-19 after the 14-day self-isolation period will be required to follow their regular sick leave arrangement with their employer, or apply for the CERB program.