Public can comment on options for paid sick leave in B.C.

British Columbians can have their say on three proposed options for permanent paid sick leave until Oct 25.

The options are for providing three, five or 10 days of paid sick leave.

Between Aug. 5 and Sept. 14, 2021, more than 26,000 surveys were completed by workers and employers in the first part of the consultation process.

“Over the past several weeks, thousands of workers and employers have completed surveys to give us valuable information on their current sick-leave benefits, if any, and what is needed,” said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. “Informed by those surveys, we are inviting British Columbians to once again have their say.”

An estimated 50 per cent of B.C. employees do not have access to paid sick leave. The province says more than one million workers in B.C. will benefit from receiving new paid sick leave.

“One of the most critical lessons from the pandemic has been the importance of people staying home when they are sick,” Bains said. “No one should have to choose between going to work sick or losing wages. Paid sick leave is good for businesses, good for workers and good for our communities. We’re asking for input on the next step toward making paid sick leave a permanent reality for British Columbia.”

The options paper has been posted on government’s engagement site and is available for comment until Oct. 25. To leave a comment on the engagement site, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/paidsickleave/

Following the public engagement process, paid sick leave will be established through regulation and come into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

A temporary COVID-19 paid sick leave program provides up to three days of leave, until Dec. 31, 2021. The government is reimbursing employers up to $200 per day per worker, to help cover their employees’ wages under that program.