Having faced criticism last week for continuing to ask for sick notes despite the pandemic, Tim Hortons has announced it will commit up to $40 million to support employees who are affected by COVID-19.

The company will pay employees who have contracted the virus or who are quarantined – at the specific request of the government, medical authority or restaurant owner – for the scheduled hours for up to 14 days.

This will include all hourly workers in thousands of restaurants owned by 1,500 Tim Hortons small business owners, as well as those who work in corporate-owned restaurants. The company will also work with governments to leverage support for employees, as available, it says.