British Columbians invited to provide input into the development of made-in-B.C. permanent paid sick leave

British Columbians are invited to provide input into the development of made-in-B.C. permanent paid sick leave to support workers and protect workplaces.

"One of the most critical lessons from the pandemic was the importance of people staying home when they are sick, to contain the spread of an illness and keep workplaces productive," said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. "But many workers, especially those in lower-paying jobs without benefits, simply can't afford to lose wages by missing work due to illness or personal injury. That's why we are creating a permanent paid sick leave entitlement, and we want to hear from the people who will be most affected."

In addition to outreach to key stakeholders and Indigenous partners, a public consultation process is now open and can be accessed through government's engagement site.

There will be two phases of consultation:

* Phase 1 (Aug. 5 to Sept. 14) - surveys will gather information from employers and workers on the kinds of paid illness and injury leaves currently provided, and how they are meeting workers' needs; and

* Phase 2 (Sept. 20 to Oct. 25) - informed by the surveys, options will be prepared for various paid sick leave models, including the numbers of paid days and other supports, and will be posted for public feedback and input.