The B.C. government has tabled legislation to give workers up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave if they’re facing a serious illness or injury. The move brings the province in line with other jurisdictions and aligns with the federal Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits program.
The proposed changes to the Employment Standards Act would allow employees to take time off—either continuously or in segments—over a 12-month period. To qualify, workers must be unable to work for at least seven consecutive days and provide a medical certificate from a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Currently, there is no specific long-term leave under the Act for personal illness, though legal protections exist under the B.C. Human Rights Code. The amendment ensures these protections are now built directly into employment standards law.
Premier David Eby says no one should have to choose between their job and their health, while Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside emphasized the importance of job security for those facing life-altering illnesses like cancer, Parkinson’s, or injuries from car accidents or intimate partner violence.
Roughly 31,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in B.C. each year, and at any given time, up to 12% of the Canadian workforce may be off work due to serious medical conditions.
The Ministry of Labour consulted workers, employers, and healthcare professionals in drafting the legislation, with broad support across sectors.
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