Paid Sick Leave Rebate
Highlights
This program is designed for you. It offers up to 40 hours of wages per employee per year for sick leave. This means you can support your employees when they are ill without worrying about the financial burden. It helps keep your workplace healthy and productive.
Key Benefits:
- Financial Relief: Get reimbursed for up to 40 hours of wages per employee, reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
- Health Prioritization: Encourage your employees to take necessary sick leave, reducing the spread of illness in your workplace.
- No Proof Required: Employees only need to declare their illness; no doctor's note is needed, making the process straightforward.
Applying is simple and quick. You only need to submit your application and supporting documents within 30 days of the sick leave period. This program is a valuable opportunity to support your business and employees effectively.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Wage Subsidy
Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:
- There are no repayment terms or interest rates. This is a subsidy, not a loan.
Eligible Expenses:
- Up to 40 hours of wages per employee per year.
- Applicable to both employers and self-employed workers.
Ineligible Expenses:
- Employers with an established paid sick leave program reduced or terminated after April 25, 2023.
- Workers receiving wages during the sick leave period for reasons other than sick leave (e.g., wages from the Yukon Workers' Safety and Compensation Board or vacation pay).
- Overtime wages (defined as more than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week).
Fees:
- There are no fees associated with this program.
Qualifications
- Must be a Yukon-based business.
- Must meet 3 of the following criteria:
- Have an office with a physical address in the Yukon.
- Are subject to the Yukon Income Tax Act.
- Are registered as per the Business Corporations Act or the Partnership and Business Name Act.
- Have a valid municipal business licence where applicable.
- Employees must:
- Be a Yukon resident with a valid Yukon health care card.
- Have worked for the employer for at least 90 consecutive days in the year leading up to the 1st day of leave. Returning seasonal workers who are Yukon residents may count days worked in the previous season towards this total.
- Employees' regular hourly wage must be less than or equal to $33.94 per hour.
Employees must first use all paid sick leave available to them annually through their employer.
Disqualifications:
- Employers with an established paid sick leave program which was reduced or terminated on or after April 25, 2023.
- Workers receiving wages during the sick leave period for reasons other than sick leave (e.g., wages from the Yukon Workers' Safety and Compensation Board or wages for vacation pay).
- Overtime (defined as more than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week).
- Government of Yukon and its corporations.
- Government of Canada and its corporations.
- Yukon First Nation governments.
- Federally-regulated industries.
- Municipalities.
- Commission-based employees.
Description
The Paid Sick Leave Rebate program offers your business a valuable opportunity. You can receive up to 40 hours of wages per employee each year. This helps cover costs when your employees are sick or injured and cannot work.
Why is this beneficial? It ensures your employees can take the time they need to recover without financial stress. This keeps your workplace healthier and reduces the spread of illness.
Key points to note:
- Covers up to 40 hours of wages per employee per year.
- No need for proof of illness; employees just need to declare they are unable to work.
- Unused sick leave does not carry over to the next year.
This program is split into two 12-month periods, running from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, and April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted within 30 days of the claimed sick leave period. This is a great way to support your employees and maintain a healthy work environment.
Program Steps
Gather Required Documentation: Prepare the following documents:
- A valid copy of your business licence or equivalent.
- The employee’s paystub with a separate line item for the sick leave hours paid out that exceed your contract with the employee.
- The paystub previous to the one mentioned above.
- A copy of the employer's sick leave policy (if applicable).
Record Sick Leave Hours: Ensure that the sick leave hours to be claimed are recorded as a separate pay category on the paystubs.
Submit Application Online: Complete and submit your application online within 30 days of the claimed sick leave period.
Affirm Good Faith Use: Affirm that you are using the program in good faith and that all the information submitted is complete and accurate.
Comply with Employment Standards Act: Ensure your business complies with the Employment Standards Act.
Await Reimbursement: After submission, the Government of Yukon will review your application and reimburse the additional sick leave amount paid.
