Paid Vaccination Leave Now Officially Law in British Columbia
In our article of April 19, 2021, we reported that the British Columbia government introduced Bill 3 which, if passed, would amend the British Columbia Employment Standards Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c.113, to provide for a paid leave for vaccination purposes.
On April 27, 2021, Bill 3 received Royal Assent and is now law in British Columbia. The amendments are retroactive to April 19, 2021, which means it applies to all vaccine leaves requested from April 19, 2021 onwards.
The amendments entitle an employee to paid leave for up to 3 hours for each COVID-19 vaccination. The amendments also provide that, while an employer can ask for “reasonably sufficient proof” that an employee is entitled to paid vaccination leave, the employer cannot require an employee to provide a medical note from a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or registered nurse to support the request for paid leave.
The legislation sets out a formula for determining an employee’s average hourly wage for the purposes of determining the wages an employee is entitled to for the vaccine leave. The formula takes into account the wages earned over 30 calendar days preceding the leave, less any amounts paid for overtime.
A copy of Bill 3 can be seen here.
If you have any questions about how these amendments impact your business, please reach out to us.
by Dianne Rideout and Michelle McKinnon
Insights (5 Posts)View More
Working for Workers Four Act, 2023: How Ontario’s Proposed Changes Will Impact Employers
This bulletin discusses new employer obligations for job postings, tip and wage protections, and more as proposed in the Working for Workers Four Act, 2023.
Plan for the Ban: What the Federal Court’s Decision ACTUALLY Means for Your Business – Your Questions Answered
The Court decision in Responsible Plastic Use Coalition v Canada struck down Canada's decision to add plastic manufactured items to the List of Toxic Substances
Beware of Bystanders: Ontario Court Expands the Scope of Negligence Claims
Ontario Court expands scope of negligence claims to include innocent bystanders.
CSA and CIRO Provide Update on Short Selling Regulatory Regime Review
On November 16, 2023, the CSA and CIRO published CSA/CIRO Staff Notice 23-332 Summary of Comments and Responses to CSA/IIROC Staff Notice 23-329.
Industrial Design Regime in Canada
This is an overview of the Industrial Design Regime in Canada
Get updates delivered right to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.