B.C.'s paid sick leave will support workers, reimburse businesses: Province

Workers will soon have access to a made-in-B.C. paid sick leave program that will support workers to stay home when they are sick during the pandemic and afterward, including permanent paid sick leave, as a result of legislation tabled Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

To better support workers during the pandemic, amendments to the Employment Standards Act will bring in three days of paid sick leave related to COVID-19, such as having symptoms, self-isolating and waiting for a test result. Employers will be required to pay workers their full wages and the Province will reimburse employers without an existing sick leave program up to $200 per day for each worker to cover costs.

"The best way to protect workers, their families and co-workers during this pandemic is to have a paid sick leave program in place," said Premier John Horgan. "Our made-in-B.C. program will help cover the costs for hard-hit businesses so we can all get through this pandemic together and move to a strong economic recovery."

The legislation will also create a permanent paid sick leave for workers who cannot work due to any illness or injury beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The number of paid sick days and other supports will be determined following consultations with the business community, labour organizations, Indigenous partners and other stakeholders.

"We are stepping up to create permanent paid sick leave protection for British Columbians as part of our commitment to a better future for workers and workplaces," said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. "We will consult widely and base the long-term entitlement on what we hear, so it meets the needs of workers and supports healthy businesses."

The short-term paid sick leave related to COVID-19 will bridge the gap for workers between when they first feel sick and when they can access the federal Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. B.C.'s COVID-19 paid sick leave will continue to protect workers longer - to Dec. 31, 2021.