- Develop a COVID-19 Workplace Safety plan that outlines the specific controls that will be put into place to make the workplace safer for everyone. Consider using the COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan information and template. Although posting a safety plan is no longer a regulatory requirement, it is still wise to have a plan in place and to review it regularly.
- Post signage at entrances promoting a "mask friendly space" (signage is available on the Workplaces Printable Posters page). Masks may be optional in many settings, but everyone is strongly encouraged to keep them on for a little while longer, especially in indoor spaces that are crowded. This is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of illness (or who live with someone who is), including:
- people who have not received all recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
- people who are older.
- people with certain medical conditions.
- people who are pregnant or have recently given birth.
- Ensure infection prevention and control (IPAC) measures are in place. Detailed information for workplaces on hand washing, cough etiquette and environmental cleaning is available on the Prevention at Work page.
- Encourage workers to receive all recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccinations (including a booster dose), even if previously infected with the virus.
- Review infection prevention and control/occupational health and safety policies and procedures specific to your workplace with all employees. Place reminders for workers throughout the workplace in appropriate places, such as hand washing posters at sinks. Printable Posters are available.
- Instruct workers to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and remind them of the importance of not being at work if they are ill. Advise them to follow the instructions at Ontario.ca/Exposed if they (or their household members) experience symptoms of illness.
- Where the risk of COVID-19 cannot be sufficiently reduced by other methods and personal protective equipment (PPE) is required, provide adequate training on the care, use and limitations of PPE, including how to put on and take off, and when to perform hand hygiene.
- Visit the Workplace PPE Supplier Directory for information on Ontario companies and business associations that are ready to supply personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Update corporate policies and inform employees about any changes, particularly those regarding sick leave and leave to care for family members.
- Provide adequate training for people who may have to cover the job duties of others.
- Keep workers informed of what is being done in the workplace to ensure health and safety.
- Encourage workers to maintain a positive workplace culture and to treat each other with respect.
- Recognize that the lifting of COVID-19 safety measures, including mask and physical distancing requirements, will be welcomed by some and worrisome for others. Whether to continue to wear a mask and keep a distance will be a matter of personal choice based on individual risk assessment and the local situation. Those who are most vulnerable to illness are strongly recommended to continue to follow these measures. They remain important ways to protect ourselves from COVID-19, which is still circulating in our communities. Treating everyone with tolerance, respect, and kindness is ever so important as we each decide what is right for ourselves.
- Address any fears or concerns. Acknowledge how COVID-19 may have had an impact on the team, productivity and morale.
- Visit our Mental Health at Work and Superior Mental Wellness @ Work pages for more tips on protecting workers’ psychological health.
- Follow all infection prevention and control measures.
- Receive all recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccinations (including a booster dose), even if previously infected with the virus.
- Continue to wear a face mask for a little while longer, especially in indoor spaces that are crowded. This is particularly important if you are at higher risk of illness (or who you live with someone who is), including:
- people who have not received all recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
- people who are older.
- people with certain medical conditions.
- people who are pregnant or have recently given birth.
- Ask your employer to review with you about what is being done in the workplace to protect the health of staff, clients and customers and follow all safe work procedures.
- If you have concerns about health and safety in your workplace, you should follow the same process as what you would have done before, such as talking to your supervisor, a health and safety committee representative, and/or union or (as a final option) the Ministry of Labour.
- Participate in any training and education your workplace offers and help train others to do aspects of your job if requested.
- If going back to work is causing you anxiety, please reach out to the mental health resources that are available to you either in your community, over the phone or online. A list of services is available at on our Mental Health Support page.
It’s also important to do your part as an employee to protect others at work:
- Stay home (or go home) if you are feeling ill. Be familiar with the symptoms of COVID-19. If you are experiencing symptoms, you and your household members must self-isolate and follow the guidance on the Ministry of Health's Ontario.ca/Exposed page.
- Inform yourself of workplace policies and procedures regarding leave time so you know what options are available to you if you are not well or you are caring for family members. See also:
Symptoms and Isolation
- Employees who develop symptoms at work must inform their supervisor and go home. If they cannot leave immediately, the worker must be isolated in a specific space until they are able to leave.
- Employers must instruct anyone with symptoms, no matter how mild, to self-isolate immediately. Workers should be referred to the Ministry of Health's Ontario.ca/Exposed page for guidance on when it is safe to come out of self-isolation and what household contacts should do. Helpful flowcharts are also available from the Ontario Ministry of Health.
- Workers and volunteers in HIGH-RISK HEALTH CARE SETTING, must follow specific guidance that is listed on the Ontario.ca/Exposed page. These settings/individuals include: hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes, congregate living settings, and health care workers providing care to immunocompromised people. For more detailed guidance, refer to the Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario.
- If workers experience mild symptoms after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, employers should follow the Guidance for Employers Managing Workers with Symptoms within 48 Hours of COVID-19 Immunization.
- Employees who develop symptoms at home must notify their supervisor and stay home.
- Employers are not required to advise the health unit when an employee is ill with symptoms related to COVID-19.
- Ensure employees are aware of return-to-work procedures. The criteria for return-to-work for COVID-19 is unique depending on the workplace setting.
- Any coworkers who are concerned about having been in close contact with the individual should contact their worksite occupational health and safety office.
- Remind staff that they should stay home if they are sick. All sick individuals with any symptoms of any illness should stay home and seek assessment from their regular health care provider, if required.
- Once any non-COVID symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms) and the worker feels well enough, they can go back to work; a COVID-19 test is not required.
- If any COVID-19 symptoms develop, the worker should self-isolate and refer to the Ministry of Health's Ontario.ca/Exposed page for guidance on when it is safe to come out of self-isolation and what household contacts should do.
- Anyone who tests positive from a PCR test, rapid molecular test or a rapid antigen test, must self-isolate and follow the instructions on the Ministry of Health's Ontario.ca/Exposed page.
- Workers and volunteers in HIGH-RISK HEALTH CARE SETTING, must follow specific guidance that is listed on What to do if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 page. These settings/individuals include: hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes, congregate living settings, and health care workers providing care to immunocompromised people. For more detailed guidance, refer to the Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario.
- Once they have met all the criteria to come out of self-isolation, and feel well enough and able, they can return to work. They should communicate with their employer and follow workplace procedures about return-to-work. Please refer to the Ministry of Health's Ontario.ca/Exposed page for details.
- Employers should not require proof of a negative test for an employee to return to the workplace. When a person is recovering from COVID-19 they can continue to test positive even after they are no longer contagious.
- TBDHU does not issue workers with either letters of exemption for testing or letters of recovery from COVID-19.
- Once a person has recovered from COVID-19, it’s not uncommon to have a mild lingering cough.
- It is important to respect employee privacy and not disclose personal health information to co-workers.
- Follow public health advice regarding infection prevention and control practices workplaces need to take to reduce the risk of transmission. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and washing of hands reduces the risk of infection.
- If, at any time, a worker develops symptoms, they should immediately self-isolate, even if they previously tested positive for COVID-19, isolated and recovered.
- If they have new symptoms AND there is a known high-risk exposure to a recent positive case, the worker should follow the 5 or 10-day self-isolation requirements as outlined at Ontario.ca/Exposed.
- If they have new symptoms and there is no known high risk exposure to a recent positive case, then it is less likely to be a reinfection, but they should still follow the self-isolation and testing guidance at Ontario.ca/exposed. If they test negative for COVID-19 on a single PCR test or two rapid antigen tests taken 24-48 hours apart and symptoms have been improving for over 24 hours (48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms) and they don’t have a fever, they may return to work.
- When a person is recovering from COVID-19 they can continue to test positive even after they are no longer contagious. Rapid antigen tests are not recommended for use on workers if they had previously tested positive in the last 30 days.
- After a COVID-19 infection, employees are “cleared” to end self-isolation and return to work if all of the following criteria are met:
- They have completed self-isolation AND
- They have no fever (without the use of fever reducing medicine) AND
- Their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal)
*Workers in highest risk settings should follow the testing requirements of their employer.
Employers are discouraged from asking workers to verify their COVID-19 status with a print-out confirming negative test results in order for them to return to work. If the employee was tested, their verbal confirmation that the results were negative should suffice. If an employee self-isolated for the designated amount of time depending on their situation, a COVID-19 test is not required for them to be considered 'cleared' to return to their regular daily activities.
Siblings, parents/caregivers and other persons in the household of individuals who are isolating because they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive may also be required to self-isolate (depending on their age and vaccination status). Please refer to the Ministry of Health's Ontario.ca/Exposed page for self-isolation instructions.
NOTE: Workers in highest risk settings should follow the requirements of their employer.
- If a person tests positive, isolates for the required time and then another household member develops symptoms shortly after, the person who tested positive does not need to isolate again. However, any household members who had previously isolated, but who had not tested positive themselves, may be required to isolate again for the same amount of time as the newly positive case (depending on their age and vaccination status). Please refer to the Ministry of Health's Ontario.ca/Exposed page for self-isolation instructions.
- Close contacts who previously tested positive on a rapid antigen or PCR test in the last 90 days do not have to self-isolate again and can attend work as long as they do not have any symptoms themselves.
Vaccine Information
If workers experience mild symptoms after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, employers should follow the Guidance for Employers Managing Workers with Symptoms within 48 Hours of COVID-19 Immunization.
Proof of vaccination status is no longer required to access certain public settings and facilities. However, individual businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry.
For more information, see the Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination page and the Ministry's Proof of vaccination information for businesses and organizations page.
All Ontarians, regardless of their vaccination status, should continue to have access to necessary medical care, food from grocery stores and basic medical supplies.
Other Information
For information related to accommodation, work refusal, working conditions, etc., visit:
- The Ontario government offers a Worker Income Protection Benefit program, which provides paid sick days, until July 31, 2022 to ensure workers do not lose pay if they need to miss work for reasons related to COVID-19. Employees can continue to access this paid leave to get tested, vaccinated, self-isolate, or care for a family member.
- For questions regarding community supports, refer to 211 for local, up-to-date information. This could include information on taxes/EI claims, mental health supports, etc.
- Provincial government supports:
- Federal government supports: