CNESST flexibility measures for employers and workers in response to COVID-19

To help clients during the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) is introducing special flexibility measures.

Flexibility measures:

• Flexibility measure regarding payment of the Statement of Account

  Employers who are experiencing financial difficulties related to COVID‑19 and who are unable to pay the amount due for occupational health and safety in a single payment are invited to communicate with the CNESST to reach a payment agreement. CNESST will assess the possibility of setting payment terms adapted to their situation.

• Flexibility measure for the imputation of the cost of employment injuries accepted for a diagnosis of COVID-19

  The cost of an employment injury accepted for a diagnosis of COVID-19 will be imputed to the classification unit in which the employer is classified. Employers covered by this measure do not have to submit a Request to transfer or share the imputed cost to the CNESST. The CNESST will, on its own initiative, make the applicable adjustments to the files of the employers concerned. The adjustments will be made by the end of September and will be recorded on the Statement of benefits awarded and amounts imputed.

• Flexibility measure for the allocation of employment injury costs

  Where income replacement benefits continue to be paid in specific situations where these benefits should have ended as of March 12, 2020 had it not been for COVID-19, the additional costs related to these benefits will not be charged to the employers' files. The CNESST will, on its own initiative, review and adjust the costs in the employers' files.

  The CNESST has adopted flexibility measures with respect to its orientation under section 326 of the AIAOD in order to be able to accept requests for the transfer of the cost of benefits when it is objectively demonstrated that the COVID-19 situation has had an impact on the progress of a worker's file.

• Flexibility measure with respect to the insurance premium payment for employers receiving the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

  Employers who are receiving the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) do not have to pay insurance premiums to the CNESST, either on the amount of the subsidy or on the additional amount they may pay during this period, for weeks when workers do not perform any work. Consequently, no periodic payments need to be made on these amounts and the necessary adjustments can be made when the 2020 Statement of Wages is produced.

  However, for weeks where workers perform work, even on a part-time basis, employers must declare the entire subsidy and the additional amount they may pay to their workers in the calculation of periodic payments.

Since March 20, 2020:

• services relating to the eligibility of employment injuries, payment of income replacement benefits and the reimbursement of expenses are a priority and are maintained.
• we are asking our clients to primarily use our online services:
  • to file a claim if you are a worker and for any claims related to your occupational health and safety file if you are an employer: Mon Espace CNESST (French only),
  • to file a complaint concerning labour standards,
  • to file a complaint concerning pay equity;
• depending on the situation, there is leniency with respect to deadlines for filing complaints, for example for providing documents required for an investigation
• for suppliers who must produce an invoice for the CNESST, the 180-day billing period prescribed in the Regulation respecting medical aid is calculated from the date the special measures implemented by the government are lifted. At the appropriate time, the CNESST will inform professional orders and associations of the exact start date of the calculation;
  • For care and treatment provided after June 1, 2020, the Regulation respecting medical aid applies and the period of 180 days following the date of the dispensation of the care or treatment applies.
• reimbursement of telemedical and telerehabilitation treatments, for example by telephone or online, is authorized;
• the procedure for processing applications filed under the “For a Safe Maternity Experience Program” has been streamlined to facilitate access and protect the health of pregnant workers and their unborn or breastfed child. A pregnant or breastfeeding worker may stop working even before they have seen their doctor, under certain conditions, if there is a risk of exposure to COVID-19.

The CNESST is taking all necessary measures to safely maintain its core activities.

Note that the CNESST may introduce other flexibility measures if necessary.