Proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act to provide paid leave to get a COVID-19 vaccine, ensuring no one has to choose between losing pay or their health. This leave helps make it as easy as possible to get someone’s doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
If passed, the amendments to the Employment Standards Act will provide British Columbian part-time or full-time workers with up to three hours of paid leave to get their COVID-19 vaccine, for each dose. This leave supports B.C.’s Immunization Plan. Many vulnerable and low-wage workers – who are often women or migrant workers – lack benefits, so the ability to take employer-paid leave to receive the vaccine will be especially beneficial to them. Government is making it as easy as possible for people to get their COVID-19 vaccine through simple registration, long clinic hours throughout the province and through different leave options to encourage workers to get their vaccine when it is their time. This leave is available for both the first and second doses of the vaccine to fully vaccinate British Columbians against COVID-19. If passed, the effective date will be retroactive to the date of introduction (April 19, 2021).