If you employ a domestic worker in Ontario for more than 24 hours per week, you may be legally required to register with WSIB, even if the work takes place in your home.
Hiring a domestic worker, such as a nanny, housekeeper, or caregiver, can simplify life at home. What many Ontario households overlook is that doing so can also create mandatory employer obligations under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
If a domestic worker is employed more than 24 hours per week, you may be legally required to register with WSIB and pay premiums. Missing this requirement can lead to penalties, retroactive assessments, and financial exposure if an injury occurs.
Who Is Considered a Domestic Worker Under WSIB?
For WSIB purposes, a domestic worker is someone directly hired and paid by a private household to perform work related to the operation of that household. This includes roles such as nannies and babysitters, housekeepers and cleaners, cooks, gardeners, handy persons, chauffeurs, companions (excluding personal attendants), and bodyguards.
The same rules apply to domestic workers employed by religious organizations when the work is performed in a private household.
The 24-Hour Rule Explained
WSIB coverage depends on how many hours a domestic worker is employed by one household each week. If a domestic worker works more than 24 hours per week, WSIB registration is mandatory. This requirement also applies when hours fluctuate but exceed 24 hours in most weeks. Once the threshold is met, coverage is considered continuous, even if some weeks fall below 24 hours.
Special WSIB Considerations for Household Employers
Shared employment occurs when a domestic worker performs duties for more than one household at the same time. If total shared hours exceed 24 per week, the households are treated as a single employer and must register with WSIB under one account. This requirement is commonly overlooked.
Hiring a family member does not automatically remove WSIB obligations. If the individual is paid a stated wage, standard payroll deductions are made, and proper records are maintained, WSIB registration is required once weekly hours exceed 24.
Duties performed outside the home are still considered part of the worker’s employment when authorized by the employer. If an injury occurs during activities such as driving children or running errands and WSIB coverage should have been in place, liability may rest with the employer.
WSIB Responsibilities and Why They Matter
When WSIB coverage is required, household employers must register with WSIB, pay applicable premiums, maintain wage records, and report workplace injuries as required, even though the workplace is a private residence.
WSIB premiums are calculated as a rate per $100 of insurable wages and are reported and paid directly to WSIB. Premium rates are set annually and may change, so employers should confirm the applicable rate at the time of registration. Registration can be completed directly through the WSIB website.
While WSIB obligations are often associated with businesses, the financial exposure for households can be just as significant. If a domestic worker is injured and registration should have been in place, WSIB may assess retroactive premiums, apply penalties and interest, and hold the employer responsible for medical and wage-loss costs. This is not simply a paperwork issue. It is a risk management issue.
The Bottom Line
If you employ a domestic worker in Ontario and their hours approach or exceed 24 hours per week, guessing is a mistake. The cost of getting this wrong is significantly higher than the cost of confirming your obligations early. At Bateman MacKay LLP, we view tax, accounting, and advisory services as strategic tools that help individuals and businesses manage risk, protect value, and make informed decisions. Understanding employer obligations, including WSIB requirements, is part of maintaining financial clarity and avoiding unintended exposure.
For official guidance, current premium rates, and registration requirements, employers should refer directly to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. To receive insights like this directly, follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our blog for regular updates on legislative changes, compliance considerations, and strategic accounting guidance that impact privately owned businesses across Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions About WSIB and Domestic Workers
Do I need WSIB if my nanny works exactly 24 hours per week?
No. WSIB coverage becomes mandatory when a domestic worker works more than 24 hours per week for a single employer. At 24 hours or less, coverage is not compulsory, although optional insurance may be available.
What if hours change from week to week?
If the worker exceeds 24 hours in most weeks, WSIB considers them continuously covered, even if some weeks fall below the threshold.
My nanny works for two families. Who registers?
If the nanny works more than 24 hours for one family, that family must register.
If the nanny works for multiple families at the same time and total shared hours exceed 24 per week, the families are considered a single employer and must register together.
Do cash payments avoid WSIB requirements?
No. How you pay the worker does not change WSIB obligations. If the hours threshold is met, registration is required.
What happens if I do not register and there is an injury?
WSIB can assess retroactive premiums, penalties, and interest. You may also be responsible for injury-related costs that WSIB would otherwise cover.
