Skip to content

COVID-19 vaccination leave for employees

Mark Tector and Bhreagh Ross

With vaccine rollout well underway across the country, employers should be aware of legislative changes that entitle employees to paid or unpaid time-off to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Here are the two Canadian jurisdictions that currently offer specific leave protections for employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine:

Province Vaccine leave legislation Provision
British Columbia Unpaid, job-protected leave to be vaccinated or to take a dependent family member to be vaccinated S. 52.12(2), Employment Standards Act; s. 45.03(2(b), Employment Standards Regulation
Saskatchewan Three hours paid, job-protected leave to be vaccinated S. 6-22.1, The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020

Currently, none of the Atlantic Provinces have enacted specific legislation dealing with leave time for employees to be vaccinated, but it is undoubtedly a topic of conversation for many provincial policymakers.  In some provinces employees may use other statutory leaves to take time off to get the vaccine.  For example, employees in Nova Scotia have a statutory entitlement to three (3) unpaid sick days a year that can be used for such things as medical appointments, including a medical appointment to receive the vaccine.

While pandemic policies are ever-changing, as an employer, it is important to be mindful of your province’s leave requirements when it comes to allowing and encouraging employees to take time off work to get the vaccine as it becomes available.

As part of their policies addressing COVID-19, employers should consider their approach to vaccine leave time, especially as the vaccine becomes more readily available.  Internal policies should also account for dosage needs given that three of the four vaccines currently approved for use in Canada require two doses to be effective. Through proactive vaccine leave policies, employers have the opportunity to send a strong message about the importance of vaccination, which plays a key role in controlling the spread of COVID-19 within the workplace and the broader community.

One of the members of our Labour and Employment group would be happy to answer any questions you have regarding your COVID-19 policy, including leave time for employees to be vaccinated.


This update is intended for general information only. If you have questions about the above, please contact a member of our Labour & Employment group.

 

Click here to subscribe to Stewart McKelvey Thought Leadership.

SHARE

Archive

Search Archive


 
 

The Winds of Change (Part 5): Atlantic Canada poised to benefit from clean energy tax credits

November 10, 2022

By Jim Cruikshank, Graham Haynes, and Dave Randell On November 3, 2022, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland delivered the Federal Government’s Fall Economic Statement (“FES”).  The FES included a number of tax related announcements, including further…

Read More

“Constructive Taking”: Consequences for municipalities from the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Annapolis Group Inc. v. Halifax Regional Municipality

November 10, 2022

By Stephen Penney, Joe Thorne, and Giles Ayers A new decision from the Supreme Court of Canada, Annapolis Group Inc. v. Halifax Regional Municipality, 2022 SCC 36 (“Annapolis”), has changed the law of constructive expropriation across the…

Read More

Attract & Retain: Nova Scotia taps foreign healthcare workers to fill labour shortages

November 10, 2022

As part our presenting sponsorship of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Fall Dinner, we are pleased to present a series of thought leadership articles highlighting the dinner’s themes of immigration, recruitment, and labour market…

Read More

The rise of remote work and Canadian immigration considerations

November 3, 2022

As part our presenting sponsorship of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Fall Dinner, we are pleased to present a series of thought leadership articles highlighting the dinner’s themes of immigration, recruitment, and labour market…

Read More

The future of express entry: Targeted draws to meet Canada’s economic needs

November 2, 2022

By Sara Espinal Henao Since its initial launch in January 2015, Express Entry has been a pillar of Canada’s immigration system. Recently passed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) promise to drive…

Read More

Filling labour gaps with foreign workers: What Canadian employers need to know

October 28, 2022

By Brittany Trafford It is no secret that employers in Atlantic Canada are struggling to fill labour gaps. In June 2019 the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) published a report[1] indicating that the overall labour…

Read More

Updated employer compliance requirements for employers of foreign workers

October 26, 2022

This article was updated on May 4, 2023. By Brendan Sheridan The Government of Canada has recently taken steps to further protect foreign workers employed in Canada. These efforts by the government have, in some…

Read More

Nova Scotia setting legislative framework for green hydrogen

October 24, 2022

Sadira Jan, Dave Randell, and James Gamblin On October 17, 2022, the Government of Nova Scotia tabled bills that would amend four pieces of legislation in support of future green hydrogen development. The intended impacts…

Read More

Newfoundland and Labrador Introduces Pay Equity & Transparency Law

October 20, 2022

By Ruth Trask  and Josh Merrigan Pay equity is an increasing focus for governments and advocates in the employment world, which means that employers must also pay attention. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has…

Read More

Upcoming changes for international students in Canada

October 12, 2022

By Kathleen Leighton Canada is facing considerable labour shortages resulting from a myriad of factors including its aging population and declining birth rates. As a result, our immigration strategy going forward must help drive the…

Read More

Search Archive


Scroll To Top