Sick pay in B.C.: Residents asked if new program should have 3, 5 or 10 days of leave
B.C. is just months away from implementing a permanent, province-wide sick pay program and residents have the next few weeks to share their thoughts on the plan.
In May, B.C. announced a temporary COVID-19 sick pay program, offering workers three days of paid leave for circumstances related to the coronavirus. When that was implemented, officials said this would pave the way for a permanent program, which would launch at the start of next year.
Over the summer, workers and employers were surveyed on their thoughts about a permanent program. More than 26,000 surveys were received, the province says.
"One of the most critical lessons from the pandemic has been the importance of people staying home when they are sick," said Minister of Labour Harry Bains in a news release.
"No one should have to choose between going to work sick or losing wages. Paid sick leave is good for businesses, good for workers and good for our communities. We’re asking for input on the next step toward making paid sick leave a permanent reality for British Columbia."
Three options have now been presented to the public and are available for comment until Oct. 25. According to data presented by the province, of the employers that offer paid sick leave to their workers, nearly 45 per cent offer three to five days per year. About a quarter give six to 10 paid sick days.
Those giving their feedback are asked whether they're in favour of three, five and 10 days of employer-paid sick leave. Details on the possible impacts of those options are given along with the survey.
An update on the feedback received and the plans for the program is expected in November. Regulations will be passed before the end of the year and the permanent, paid sick leave program is expected to begin on Jan. 1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Feds hope to table foreign interference legislation next week: LeBlanc
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to table legislation this week to help the federal government address foreign interference, but he wouldn't say whether the proposal will include a foreign agent registry.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.