TORONTO — Starbucks is offering all its Canadian retail employees three temporary paid sick days from April 19 to Sept. 25.

The move comes after Ontario announced a similar three-day sick leave policy that would reimburse employers up to $200 a day for what they pay out.

The COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened calls for businesses to provide workers with paid sick leave, as workplaces become a key site for the virus' transmission.

Starbucks says the paid sick days will be in addition to its other COVID-19 supports, which include up to two hours of paid time off for each dose of the vaccine and up to four hours of paid time off to recover from side effects.

The company also announced it will raise its starting barista rate to $0.25 above provincial minimum wages starting May 31.

It says all hourly baristas, shift supervisors and café attendants will receive at least a 5 per cent increase.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

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