BC recently amended the Provincial Employment Standards Act to add paid sick leave for employees who cannot work for reasons related to COVID-19. The new legislation applies to BC provincially-regulated employers that do not have an existing paid sick leave plan in place.

Effective May 20, 2021 and until December 31, 2021, employers must offer 3 days of paid sick leave to full-time and part-time employees who cannot work for any of the specified reasons. Employees do not need to meet a minimum length of service requirement to be eligible and do not need to provide a doctor’s note to the employer.