The Ontario government has approved an emergency order that would enable available school board employees to be voluntarily redeployed to congregate care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move is aimed at alleviating critical staffing shortages at hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and women’s shelters.
Officials say many of these facilities are in need of custodial and maintenance workers.
Training and appropriate safety equipment will be provided to any educational worker who volunteers to be redeployed in a congregate setting.
Under the order, school boards would be authorized to develop and implement staff redeployment plans.
Voluntarily redeployed staff would maintain their employment relationship with the school board and would continue to receive their compensation and other employment benefits.
These volunteers would also be eligible for the provincial government’s pandemic pay and emergency child care benefits.
