COMPLETE THE BC GOVERNMENT PAID SICK LEAVE SURVEY BY OCTOBER 25
The BC government is seeking input from British Columbians on 3 options that are being considered to provide employer-paid sick leave to employees starting January 1, 2022.
Earlier this year, the BC government announced temporary paid sick leave measures for BC workers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are waiting for COVID-19 test results and need to self-isolate. This leave of up to $200 per day for up to 3 days is funded by the Provincial government and administered by WorkSafe BC. This temporary paid sick leave is in effect until December 31, 2021.
The BC government also announced at the time that a permanent paid sick leave program would be implemented in 2022. This new entitlement would be in addition to the 3 unpaid days for illness and injury leave already available under the BC Employment Standards Act since March 2020.
As part of their consultation process for implementing paid sick leave in the province, the government sought input from employers and workers earlier this year on their existing sick leave policies and what they would like to see in a province-wide model. Over 26,000 responses were received according to the Ministry of Labour, with the following results:
- Approximately half of employees in BC do not have employer-paid sick days.
- About 6 in 10 employers do not offer employer-paid sick leave to any of their employees.
- Of the employers that offer paid sick leave to their employees:
- Close to 45% provide 3 to 5 days per year
- About 25% provide 6 to 10 days
- About 20% provide more than 10 days; and
- Close to 10% provide less than 3 days.
- Many employers who do not offer paid sick leave to any of their employees cite costs as a major reason.
- Just over 25% of employers stated that one or two days of employer-paid sick leave per year would have a major impact on their operations.
- About 50% stated that 3 to 5 days per year would have a major impact.
- Almost 75% stated that 6 to 10 days would have a major impact.
- Approximately 90% stated that more than 10 days would have a major impact.
Based on these results, the BC Government is seeking input on which of three options would be preferable as BC’s minimum standard for employer-paid sick days starting in January 2022:
- Option 1: Establish a minimum entitlement of 3 employer-paid days per year for illness/injury leave, in addition to the 3 days of unpaid illness/injury leave already in place.
- Option 2: Establish a minimum entitlement of 5 employer-paid days per year for illness/injury leave, in addition to the 3 days of unpaid illness/injury leave already in place.
- Option 3: Establish a minimum entitlement of 10 employer-paid days per year for illness/injury leave, in addition to the 3 days of unpaid illness/injury leave already in place.
We encourage you and your industry colleagues to provide your input and feedback on the proposed sick leave options by completing the BC government’s Paid Sick Leave survey. The survey is open until October 25, 2021.
