News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Province Adjusting Paid Sick Leave Act
Harry Bains, Minister of Labour, has introduced changes to address two issues that have been raised since the five days of employer-paid sick leave came into effect on January 1, 2022. For ease of implementation, the act is being amended to reference “calendar year," which standardizes the annual entitlement period for all employees regardless of the start of their employment.
The total number of paid sick leave days per year will not be affected. It remains at five. To ensure government’s intent that the paid sick leave entitlement is applied to all employees in BC, the clause that relates to collective agreements is being amended.
Harry Bains, BC Minister of Labour, has introduced changes to address two issues that have been raised since the five days of employer-paid sick leave came into effect on January 1, 2022.
For ease of implementation, the act is being amended to reference “calendar year," which standardizes the annual entitlement period for all employees regardless of the start of their employment. The total number of paid sick leave days per year will not be affected. It remains at five.
To ensure government’s intent that the paid sick leave entitlement is applied to all employees in BC, the clause that relates to collective agreements is being amended.
The changes will be effective upon Royal Assent, which is expected before the end of the current legislative session, to ensure the paid sick leave entitlement applies to the 2022 calendar year.
Paid Sick Leave Survey | Open Until February 10, 2022
As of January 1, 2022, the provincial government mandated five days of paid sick leave for employees. ABLE BC is seeking your voice to better understand how this new policy has impacted your business since its implementation. The information you provide will support our collective industry's ongoing engagement with all levels of government.
As of January 1, 2022, the provincial government mandated five days of paid sick leave for employees. ABLE BC is seeking your voice to better understand how this new policy has impacted your business since its implementation. The information you provide will support our collective industry's ongoing engagement with all levels of government.
This survey will be open until Thursday, February 10, 2022.
ABLE BC is continuing to work with our industry partners to request logical and necessary amendments to the paid sick leave policy, including pressuring government to redefine “employment year” as a calendar year and to re-introduce the now-expired Employer Reimbursement Program for COVID-19 related sick leave wages.
Visit the FAQ to better understand this policy.
Reminder: Employer Reimbursement Program for Paid Sick Leave
This is a reminder of the extended submission window for employers seeking reimbursement for employee claims for COVID-19 related sick leave taken between May 20th and December 31st, 2021.
The reimbursement program intake is open and will close on February 11th at 4:00 pm PST.
Please submit all eligible claims for reimbursement for employee COVID-19 related sick leave taken up to and including December 31st in order to access the reimbursement program.
Employers that already have a sick pay benefit program for their employees are not eligible to receive reimbursement.
For an employer to apply for reimbursement, they must do so through their Online WorkSafeBC account profile. If the employer is not already registered with WorkSafeBC and does not have an online account with WorkSafeBC, they can visit WorkSafeBC.
This is a reminder of the extended submission window for employers seeking reimbursement for employee claims for COVID-19 related sick leave taken between May 20th and December 31st, 2021.
The reimbursement program intake is open and will close on February 11th at 4:00 pm PST.
Please submit all eligible claims for reimbursement for employee COVID-19 related sick leave taken up to and including December 31st in order to access the reimbursement program.
Employers that already have a sick pay benefit program for their employees are not eligible to receive reimbursement.
For an employer to apply for reimbursement, they must do so through their Online WorkSafeBC account profile. If the employer is not already registered with WorkSafeBC and does not have an online account with WorkSafeBC, they can visit WorkSafeBC.
