Millie Dell asked:

If employees were prepared to work on Friday August 15, 2003 but were told by their employers their place of employment was closed due to the blackout, does their employer have to pay them for the day?

Belinda Sutton answered:

The government expects that employers would take into consideration the emergency circumstances and treat their employees fairly.

Generally, under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 the employer is only required to pay employees for the time work was actually performed. The Employment Standards Act, 2000 does not require an employer to pay an employee if he or she did not work on the day(s) of the blackout. However, some employees may have contracts of employment that may address such issues.

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