Here’s Alan’s reply to your follow-up:
Glenn,
I stand somewhat corrected.
The client is right that on its web site, the WSIB shows SaaS and related activities as non-mandatory under the Ontario act.
However, that seems to vary from the actual legislation, which I was referring to.
Under the regulations, in Schedule 1, Class J, there are a variety of industries which are listed as mandatory, including:
- Web search portals.
- Data hosting and processing services.
- Internet services.
One consideration is that if the employer is in an excluded industry, they are not covered by the prohibition on law suits for damages an employee might suffer while at work or related to work.
If they do not register with WSIB, there is no obligation to provide either long or short term disability coverage. Its not either or.
The WSIB web site has instructions on registering: https://www.wsib.ca/en/businesses/registration-and-coverage/register-us.
