Bayshore HealthCare Salutes Ontario Caregiver Coalition's Victory in Caregiver Rights Legislation

Passing of Bill 21 caps year-long campaign to ensure caregivers granted leave to care for ill loved ones

TORONTO, May 6, 2014 /CNW/ - Employees in Ontario may now have access to 8 weeks of unpaid leave as caregivers of family members, thanks to the unrelenting grassroots efforts by the Ontario Caregiver Coalition (OCC) to amend the provincial Employment Standards Act.

The OCC and its members, including the Alzheimer's Society of Ontario, have again demonstrated their unwavering  determination to protect the rights of families with ill loved ones, says Stuart Cottrelle, President of Bayshore HealthCare Ltd.

"I congratulate the members of the Legislature and the advocacy efforts for the rights of caregivers and their families," Cottrelle says. "I am particularly impressed that the OCC earned all-party support for the amendment in the Ontario Legislature, which bodes well for the OCC's continued efforts to enhance the provincial healthcare system's support for families coping with serious medical challenges."

Bill 21, the "Leaves to Help Families" amendment, protects the jobs of caregivers who are caring for family members with serious medical conditions, providing up to eight weeks job protected leave to care for someone with a serious medical condition and up to 37 weeks to care for a critically ill child.

About Bayshore HealthCare                                        

Bayshore HealthCare Ltd. is one of the country's leading providers of home and community health care services and a Canadian-owned company. Its services are purchased by government care programs, insurance companies, workers' compensation boards, health care organizations, the corporate sector and the public. The Bayshore brand extends across four business divisions: Bayshore Home Health (medical and non-medical home care and staffing services), Bayshore Specialty Rx (specialty pharmacy, infusion and pharmaceutical patient support services), Bayshore Therapy & Rehab (physiotherapy and rehabilitation services) and Bayshore Dialysis (dialysis centers). The company's goal is to enhance the quality of life, well-being, dignity and independence of Canadians of all ages. Bayshore HealthCare has been a recipient of Canada's Best Managed Companies award since 2006. For more information, call 1-877-289-3997 or visit www.bayshore.ca.

SOURCE: Bayshore HealthCare

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