The Manitoba government intends to compensate front line health-care workers who are required to self-isolate for 14 days due to possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.

Premier Brian Pallister says the province will provide health-care staff paid administrative leave for the full 14-day period of asymptomatic self-isolation. Workers who become symptomatic during self-isolation will be compensated by sick leave benefits, pursuant to their collective agreement.

“Our government recognizes front-line health-care providers are facing extraordinary challenges during this unprecedented time,” said Pallister. “This change will give workers a piece of mind knowing they can take the necessary time to protect themselves, their patients, coworkers and the broader community.”

Health-care staff will be given paid administrative leave for the full 14-day period of asymptomatic self-isolation. Should a worker become symptomatic during self-isolation, the individual will be compensated by sick leave benefits, pursuant to their collective agreement, the premier added.

The province is also proposing new provisions to the Employment Standards Code that would provide job protection for employees who are forced to be away from work for specified reasons related to COVID-19. Pallister says the changes will allow employees protected leave for eligible purposes.

Employees would be able to take as much unpaid time off work as needed to:

• be in isolation or quarantine or take any other control measure in accordance with information or directions related to COVID-19 by health professionals, health officers, Health Links–Info Santé, the government of Manitoba or the Government of Canada, a municipal council or a board of health;

• obtain medical examination, supervision or treatment;

• comply with an order made under The Emergency Measures Act or The Public Health Act;

• provide care or support to a family member as a result of COVID-19, including but not limited to, school and daycare closures; or

• comply with travel restrictions.

The Manitoba government will also be meeting with Manitoba’s public-sector union leaders to explore ways to defer non-essential spending across all of government in an effort to redirect resources to front-line health services. "We'll be asking the union leaders to support us in allowing all non-front line public servants to participate in a reduced workweek. We believe this is a common-sense approach...that will allow us to shift resources away from the non-front line directly to the front line," said Pallister.