School board employees have been granted the authority to work outside of the education sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, to fill critical staffing shortage in congregate care settings.
Congregate care settings being hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and women shelters, which as stated in a provincial press release, are in dire need of custodial and maintenance workers.
"Our priority continues to be protecting the most vulnerable citizens and the dedicated staff that care for them during the COVID-19 outbreak," said Premier Doug Ford in the release.
"Many of our long-term care homes and shelters are short of staff, so I am encouraging any available educational workers to help out if you can because you can make a real difference in the lives of those most in need."
Ontario announced the emergency order Saturday, ultimately giving school boards the authority to develop and implement staff redeployment plans without damaging any existing employment contracts.
With this new provision, staff who choose to be redeployed will maintain their existing relationship with the school board and continue to receive their compensation as well as all other employment benefits.
They would also be eligible for the provincial government's pandemic pay and emergency child care.
"While all the Trustee Associations that represent school boards and many of the unions have confirmed their willingness to help out, there is no provision within the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act to redeploy staff to non-educational employers," said Stephen Lecce, minister of education in a press release.
"This emergency order opens the door for our educational workers to voluntarily go where they are needed most during this crisis."
