  {"id":750,"date":"2025-08-28T01:29:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T05:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/?p=750"},"modified":"2026-07-29T00:47:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T04:47:57","slug":"how-to-create-a-time-off-policy-sick-leave-vacation-personal-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/blog\/how-to-create-a-time-off-policy-sick-leave-vacation-personal-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Develop a PTO Program that keeps your employees happy and engaged"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-template-header has-neutral-100-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--16)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div style=\"--bb--crumb-gap:.4em;\" class=\"blog-template-breadcrumb 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Program that keeps your employees happy and engaged<\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-query wp-block-hosts-query has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-query-is-layout-1 wp-block-query-is-layout-constrained\"><ul data-wp-interactive=\"eh-hosts\" class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-1 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li data-host-index=\"0\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.openDetail\" class=\"wp-block-post post-152 hosts type-hosts status-publish hentry\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-sm-font-size is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><h6 class=\"has-text-align-center has-link-color wp-elements-c7558c1c9e2b60b85b89e09ed14c4c61 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-violet-500-color has-sm-font-size\">Jessica Johnson<\/h6><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-meta-row is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-700);border-left-width:1px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\">Published<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-08-28T01:29:29-04:00\">Aug 28, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-700);border-left-width:1px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\">Updated<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date__modified-date wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-29T00:47:57-04:00\">Jul 29, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-700);border-left-width:1px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-image-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized blog-template-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Develop-a-PTO-Program-that-keeps-your-employees-happy-and-engaged-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Develop a PTO Program that keeps your employees happy and engaged\" class=\"wp-image-3579\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover;width:864px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:66px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sticky-side-panel is-vertical is-content-justification-stretch is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-13 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-200);border-bottom-width:0.1rem;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4)\"><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"content-single-table-content\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div id=\"content-wrapper\" class=\"wp-block-group content-wrapper has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4)\">\n<p>A paid time off policy offers a great benefit to your employees and is an attractive offer. Not all locations are required to offer paid time off, so it&#8217;s up to you to figure out what kind of policy fits best with your culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t know where to start? Not a problem. We\u2019ll help you find a policy that follows both the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/laws\/statute\/00e41\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Employment Standards Act<\/a>&nbsp;and fits perfectly with your organizational culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is a time off policy important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When an employee needs to take a leave of absence, a&nbsp;time off policy&nbsp;provides clarity and sets expectations. But beyond this, it\u2019s best practice to keep your people happy and comfortable working for your company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a time off policy lets employees and potential talent know they have options when an emergency arises. Without one, feelings of anxiety and stress for employees needing that time off can be detrimental to their productivity, engagement, and retention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the types of leave?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are paid and unpaid types of leaves that are under the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/laws\/statute\/00e41\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Employment Standards Act, 2000&nbsp;<\/em>(ESA)<\/a>. Some of the most common&nbsp;types of leave&nbsp;covered under the ESA are public holidays, vacation, pregnancy and parental leave, sick leave, and bereavement leave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sick days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Achoo! Now that\u2019s something you don\u2019t want to hear in the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Selecting the perfect&nbsp;sick leave policy&nbsp;for your organization can be tricky. You definitely don\u2019t want employees showing up to work sick but we understand if you\u2019re feeling nervous that someone may take advantage by using unnecessary days off. To create a successful paid time off policy, let\u2019s start off by determining what is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How many sick days are required?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Employment Standards Act provides employees with job-protected sick leave each year, whether paid or not. Specifically in Ontario, anyone who\u2019ve worked with you for at least 2 consecutive weeks is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/document\/your-guide-employment-standards-act-0\/sick-leave\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">entitled to 3 days<\/a>&nbsp;of unpaid sick leave each calendar year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/document\/industries-and-jobs-exemptions-or-special-rules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Special rules<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;apply to some occupations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who can take sick leave?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Any employee who experiences a personal illness, injury or medical emergency regardless of the cause. But, your employees can\u2019t take a sick leave for a non-medical cosmetic operation or if it\u2019s unrelated to their illness or injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to create a sick leave policy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At 91±¬ΑΟ, we offer our employees unlimited sick leave, which fits perfectly with our organizational culture. We know our employees don\u2019t like being sick, so why risk it? Our employees have the ability to take as much time as they need to rest and prevent others from becoming sick as well. Our employees really appreciate it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But we know that\u2019s not a policy for everyone. Evaluate your organization&#8217;s needs and culture to see what works best for your team. For instance, your organization might want a culture that supports unlimited sick leave but can\u2019t risk it due to limiting factors like shift work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TIP: Start with 3 days in your sick leave policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vacation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone\u2019s favourite day off &#8211; vacation time! In Ontario, the act separates this term into two sections: vacation leave and vacation pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vacation leave: How many vacation days is an organization required to give employees each entitlement year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200dVacation pay: A government mandated form of guaranteeing employees can either receive paid time off for vacation or are paid for vacation time not taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you might be wondering, \u201chow much vacation leave do you need to give your employees?\u201d Your employees in Ontario are <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/vacation-pay-calculator\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/resources\/vacation-pay-calculator\/\">entitled to vacation time<\/a>\u00a0based on the length of time they\u2019ve been working for you. If they\u2019ve worked for less than 5 years, they&#8217;ve earned a minimum of 2 weeks and if more than 5 years, they\u2019ve earned a minimum of 3 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200d<em>Note: If an employee starts on an alternative vacation entitlement year or isn\u2019t employed at the beginning of the entitlement year, they\u2019re entitled to a pro-rated amount of vacation time, also known as a <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/document\/your-guide-employment-standards-act-0\/vacation#section-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>stub period<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TIP: Provide your employees with 2 weeks of vacation at 4% if they\u2019ve worked less than 5 years. Then offer 3 weeks of vacation at 6% for employees who\u2019ve worked more than 5 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personal leave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wouldn\u2019t it be nice to have a day off to move into your new home or to attend your grandfather\u2019s unveiling? That\u2019s where personal days come in. Personal days off offers employees an additional form of paid time off that contributes to a healthy work environment. Employees can use this time off for things that shouldn\u2019t count as a vacation day or sick leave, and use it as a personal day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, Ontario does not require employers to provide personal days off but it\u2019s definitely something to consider in your policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personal emergency leave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re not required to offer personal days in Ontario but you\u2019re required to offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/document\/your-guide-employment-standards-act\/personal-emergency-leave\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">personal emergency leave<\/a>. &nbsp;This policy grants your employees the right to take up to 10 days of job-protected leave each calendar year due to illness, injury, death, and emergencies. It&#8217;s important to note that maintaining&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jadeo.co\/blog\/workplace-safety-in-alberta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a safe and healthy work environment&nbsp;<\/a>can help reduce the need for such leaves. However, when emergencies do occur, this policy ensures that your employees&#8217; jobs are protected. Special rules apply to some occupations.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/document\/industries-and-jobs-exemptions-or-special-rules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/document\/industries-and-jobs-exemptions-or-special-rules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Special rules<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;<\/em>apply to some occupations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Offering unlimited PTO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some companies may choose to provide unlimited paid time off as long as their employees meet their performance goals, while others may decide to offer it right off the back. Perhaps your organization is only qualified to offer what\u2019s within the requirements. It all depends on the goals you&#8217;re trying to accomplish. Let\u2019s explore some pros and cons of offering unlimited paid time off:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Helps to attract and retain top talent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduces employee burnout to increase productivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cut down costs (employees can\u2019t accrue time off)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employees gain trust and flexibility, leading to an increase in morale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fear of employees abusing the system&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lose vacation as a reward<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employee might not take time off or get paid out<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expectations for how much time off to take are unclear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>An unlimited paid time off policy doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re obligated to offer an unlimited policy for all 3 leave types. The world\u2019s your oyster. You\u2019re able to structure your policy in various different ways, as long as you&#8217;re following the requirements. Maybe it bests to offer unlimited sick leave but only offer what\u2019s required for vacation? Whatever works best for your workplace environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When deciding on a vacation policy, some questions you might want to consider are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Does it offer a competitive advantage that attracts and retains talent?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Will it support a positive work environment?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can this lead to an increase in employee productivity?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Will you create a reward structure with your time off policy?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Employment Standards by Province<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Does your organization reside outside of Ontario? Canada\u2019s employment standards differ from province to province. Use the following links below to review what your province\u2019s employment standards are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alberta.ca\/employment-standards.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alberta<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/employment-business\/employment-standards-advice\/employment-standards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">British Columbia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.mb.ca\/labour\/standards\/doc,quick_guide,factsheet.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Manitoba<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/laws.gnb.ca\/en\/ShowTdm\/cs\/E-7.2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Brunswick<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.nl.ca\/aesl\/files\/publications-labour-labour-relations-work.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Newfoundland and Labrador<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.gov.nt.ca\/en\/services\/employment-standards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Northwest Territories<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/novascotia.ca\/lae\/employmentrights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nova Scotia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.nu.ca\/programs-services\/labour-standards-office\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nunavut<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.labour.gov.on.ca\/english\/es\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ontario<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.princeedwardisland.ca\/en\/information\/workforce-and-advanced-learning\/employment-standards-pei\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Prince Edward Island<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnt.gouv.qc.ca\/en\/accueil\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Quebec<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saskatchewan.ca\/business\/employment-standards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Saskatchewan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.community.gov.yk.ca\/es.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yukon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn more with 91±¬ΑΟ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We partnered with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.myfriendlylawyer.com\/\">My Friendly Lawyer<\/a>&nbsp;not too long ago to help you navigate leave types at your business.&nbsp;Click to learn&nbsp;how to navigate employee leave types from Matthew Wise, an employment lawyer and Partner with Macdonald Sager Manis LLP.<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\" data-trigger-modal=\"request-a-demo-modal\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-link-arrow is-style-link-arrow--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-brand-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"\/resources\/?topic%5B0%5D%5B0%5D=Product\">View all<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query blog-3-col-query-loop is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not all locations are required to offer paid time off, so it&#8217;s up to you to figure out what kind of policy fits best with your culture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":3579,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_visual_mode":"business","_lite_auth_enabled":false,"_lite_auth_trigger_method":"scroll","_lite_auth_scroll_percent":25,"_lite_auth_click_element_query":"","exclude_from_algolia":false,"reading_time":"5 min read","display_reading_time":false,"download_content_type":"","download_file":"","download_url":"","download_cta_label":"","homepage_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[41,35],"resource-type":[30],"topic":[92],"learn_topic":[],"industry":[],"audience":[],"business-size":[],"product-tag":[],"funnel-stage":[],"region":[],"pain-point":[],"persona":[],"content_type":[],"post_features":[],"class_list":["post-750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised","tag-culture","tag-hr","resource-type-blog","topic-hr"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=750"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19182,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/750\/revisions\/19182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"learn_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/learn_topic?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"business-size","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-size?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"product-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-tag?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"funnel-stage","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/funnel-stage?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"pain-point","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pain-point?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_type?post=750"},{"taxonomy":"post_features","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_features?post=750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}