COVID-19 Client Service Updates

Most instances of COVID-19 are not work-related. However, some workers may be at a greater risk of contracting the virus due to the type of work they do including nurses, health care aides and other direct-care providers in hospitals and long-term care facilities.  

If a worker has a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 and believes they contracted it at work, they should submit a Report of Injury (Form 6).

You may submit your Report of Injury through MyWorkplaceNL.

The worker must advise their employer so they can complete an Employer’s Report of Injury (Form 7).

Employers are required to report workplace injuries or illnesses resulting in lost time or the requirement to seek medical treatment within three business days of being made aware of them. You can file your Employer’s Report of Injury (Form 7) through connect. Any claims submitted for COVID-19 will be reviewed and adjudicated on a case by case basis. 

There are many types of coronaviruses, including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses, such as the common cold.

COVID-19 is a new coronavirus not previously identified in humans.

Human coronaviruses infect the nose, throat and lungs. They are most commonly spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or comes in close personal contact with someone (touching, shaking hands).

COVID-19 symptoms have included: fever, cough, difficulty breathing and pneumonia in both lungs. In severe cases, particularly in the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, infection can lead to death. Some people have no symptoms at all.

Everyone has a role to play to mitigate the potential impacts of COVID-19.

Employers

• Ensure workers have access to handwashing/cleaning stations.
• Speak with contractors about the importance of their sick employees staying home.
• Monitor the situation, conduct a risk assessment, make a plan and take reasonable measures to protect the health and safety of workers.

Supervisors

• Provide instruction and information on cough etiquette and handwashing.
• Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick.
• Direct workers to reliable sources of information.

Workers

• Stay informed and follow good hygiene practices in your workplace.
• Notify your supervisor if you, or someone close to you, becomes sick.
• Stay home if you believe you have been exposed.

Include these questions in your assessment:

• Who might be exposed to the virus at your workplace, and how often?
• Is it a closed site or is there public access?
• Do employees work in close proximity?
• Do employees travel to locations where there is a known outbreak?
• Has a sick worker travelled recently?
• Are handwashing facilities available? How often are they replenished?
• Are there handwashing or hand cleaning stations near high-touch areas (door handles, shared work stations)?
• Can employees work from home?
• Is there a reliable way to report an illness?

If COVID-19 becomes common in your community, you will want to have a plan in place to change practices in your workplace.

Your plan should address the risks identified in your risk assessment and consider advice from health authorities as the situation evolves. This may include: working from home or  limiting face-to-face meetings, travel, and public access to your worksite.

Yes, confirmation of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis is required in order to receive benefits.

No, we do not provide coverage to workers who are quarantined, self-isolating or sent home on a precautionary basis and are COVID-19 symptom free. 

To determine the work-relatedness of COVID-19 claims, we look at details such as the person’s employment activities, their symptoms and whether they have a diagnosis of COVID-19.

WorkplaceNL adjudicates work relatedness and benefit entitlement based on the specific and unique circumstances of each individual case. We will gather all required information when making this decision.

Contact the adjudicator or case manager to discuss any impact this may have on these claims.

WorkplaceNL will continue to make decisions on claims, share appropriate information and pay benefits to workers, where entitlement exists. For questions relating to existing claims, contact the case manager. 

Click here for more information about COVID-19.

For a COVID-19 claim to be accepted, WorkplaceNL must determine that a worker contracted the virus as a result of an exposure arising out of and in the course of employment.

To obtain coverage please email your completed Optional Personal Coverage Application to esa@workplacenl.ca along with your contact information and they will follow up with you on the assessment total and available payment options.

Yes, if the subsidy qualifies as employment income as per Canada Revenue Agency then they would be considered assessable payroll for WorkplaceNL.

Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Employers receiving the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy are required to report the full amount of remuneration paid to their employees under this program on their annual employer payroll statement. CEWS payments made to active employees are assessable.

A deduction may only be claimed for the CEWS amount paid to employees who were “on leave with pay.”  For the purposes of CEWS, employees “on leave with pay” are employees who temporarily did not work for one or more full weeks in the claim period but still received pay from their employer for those weeks. To be considered on leave with pay for a week within a claim period, an employee must:

• have received full or partial pay from the employer for the week
• not have worked at all during the full week
• not have been on paid absence (such as vacation leave, sick leave, or a sabbatical)
• have been in an employer-employee relationship at the time (i.e., they were not terminated)

Essential Worker Support Program (EWSP)
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will be paying the assessments for Essential Worker Support Program benefit. Employers distributing this benefit to their workers are still required to report the amount paid on their annual employer payroll statement and may claim a deduction when they file their annual statements.

Yes the coverage still exists. For information please see our Out of Province Coverage procedure. To apply for coverage email esa@workplacenl.ca.

You can request a refund by calling 709.778.1125 or emailing clearance@workplacenl.ca.  Please see our procedure on refunds for more information.

Yes, if those payments qualify as employment income as per Canada Revenue Agency then they would be considered assessable payroll for WorkplaceNL.

You can update your current year payroll estimates at any time, using our connect online service (go to ‘Employer Account Changes’ and choose ‘Update Payroll Estimate’). Existing payment plans will be automatically updated within three business days. If your business is closing, include any assessable payroll paid up to the time of closure.