B.C.'s Paid Sick Leave Will Support Employees And Reimburse Businesses

British Columbia employees may soon have access to a paid sick leave program.

Currently, an estimated 50% of employees in British Columbia do not have access to paid sick leave, meaning that upwards of one million employees in British Columbia will benefit from receiving these new paid sick leaves.

The proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act will include three days of paid sick leave related to COVID-19, for those that have symptoms, are self-isolating or are waiting for test results. Employers will be required to pay workers their full wages and the Province will reimburse employers that currently do not have an existing sick leave program in place up to $200 per day for each employee to cover costs. Full-time and part-time employees are eligible to take this leave. Under the proposed legislation, employers may request employees to provide reasonably sufficient proof pertaining to the requested leave, although a doctor's note is not required.