COVID-19 vaccination leave for employees
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.
Archive
IN THIS ISSUE: Putting Trust in your Estate Planning, by Paul Coxworthy and Michael McGonnell The Risks, for Insurers in Entering Administration Services Only (ASO) Contracts, by Tyana Caplan Angels in Atlantic Canada, by Allison McCarthy, Gavin Stuttard and Adam Bata…
Read MoreBill 31, An Act Respecting Human Rights, came into force on June 24, 2010 replacing the Human Rights Code (the “Code”). For more information, please download a copy of this client update.
Read MoreIN THIS ISSUE Expanded Fines and Penalties for Environmental Offences: The New Federal Environmental Enforcement Act Spam about to be Canned? Preparing a Business for Sale Business Disputes Corner – Place of Arbitration and Selected…
Read MoreThe Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has unanimously upheld the province’s legislative limits on general damage recovery for “minor injuries”. Today’s decision, authored by Chief Justice Michael MacDonald, completely affirms the January 2009 decision of…
Read MoreThe Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) announced helpful administrative positions concerning the new rules under the Fifth Protocol to the Canada-US Income Tax Convention, 1980 which will come into effect on January 1, 2010. The CRA…
Read MoreIN THIS ISSUE Contractor Held Liable for Business Interruption: Heyes v. City of Vancouver, 2009 BCSC 651 When Can a Tendering Authority Walk Away if Bids are Too High? Crown Paving Ltd. v. Newfoundland &…
Read MoreWithholding tax and other issues under the Fifth Protocol The Fifth Protocol to the Canada-US Tax Convention, 1980 introduced significant changes which may affect the use of most unlimited companies and other so-called ULCs. These…
Read MoreIN THIS ISSUE An Eye for an Eye: Alberta Court of Appeal Upholds Finding of Retaliation Liability as a Result of Generosity in Quebec Undue Hardship Established in Scent Case Parents of Twins Get Double…
Read More- « Previous
- 1
- …
- 62
- 63
- 64