'We need to fill this gap': Rally pushes for 10 paid sick days on B.C.'s final day gathering feedback
With the window for public feedback closing on B.C.’s incoming paid sick leave policy, supporters gathered at the legislature in Victoria on Monday to send a message to government.
The rally, organized by the B.C. Federation of Labour, was held in support of the 10-day minimum option that’s currently being considered. A three-day option and a five-day option are also on the table.
Federation president Laird Cronk said in the pandemic, going to work sick can have tragic consequences.
“Clearly, you’ve got experts in the field that are telling us we need to fill this gap,” he said. “We need to make sure workers have the tools to stay home when they’re feeling sick.”
An increase in paid sick leave for workers in long-term care is also something B.C.’s seniors advocate has called for following a review of COVID-19 outbreaks in the system.
The advocate’s review found while 96 per cent of long-term care sites provided some paid sick days for regular staff, the amount varied widely, and few provided similar support for casual workers.
B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie said 40 per cent of staff reported coming to work while not feeling well during the pandemic. The review found 20 per cent of those workers cited not getting paid as a reason.
“I think we found it’s fairly important that there be sufficient sick leave days allowed across the system. We saw quite a variation, from 2.5 days a year to 18 days a year,” she said. “We saw a very clear pattern that those sites that experienced larger outbreaks were those sites that provided fewer days of paid sick leave for their staff.”
BC Care Providers Association CEO Terry Lake questioned the review’s finding relating to the number of sick days and outbreak size.
“Correlation is not causation,” he said. “That may be just correlated with the number of the types of providers in Fraser Health where the biggest amounts of community spread was.”
Lake said the association supported a call from the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade for government to delay the process surrounding the sick leave policy.
He added while it is important for workers to have time off when they’re sick, there are still questions about how the policy will be funded and who will be eligible.
“Ninety per cent of long-term care is paid for or publicly supported. Contracted providers of long-term care and assisted living, our members, depend on that government funding. Really, it comes down to how much government is willing to fund,” he said. “If you’re going to give paid sick days to casual employees, which is not the current practice, that becomes more complex.”
Mackenzie said for most of the outbreaks, the virus was introduced into a care home by a staff member.
“I think it’s going to be difficult to argue against the fact that we know that a reason people go to work sick is they don’t get paid,” she said. “Whether you’re casual or regular, I think you should have the paid sick leave if you are providing direct care to the client.”
Concerns about cost have also been raised by small business advocates, who have said owners are still struggling to recover from the pandemic.
Cronk said it’s understandable employers are concerned about cost.
“We get that, but we need to make sure that the folks that actually make the profit for those employers, that are on the front lines, are healthy and safe,” he said. “The cost of not doing it is your business could be shut down if you have a COVID outbreak.”
B.C.’s labour ministry has said an announcement on the final model for the permanent paid sick leave policy is expected in December.
The policy will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Feeling older than you are? It could be how you sleep
Not getting enough sleep may cause you to feel five to 10 years older than you really are, according to two new studies.
OPP seize $7.5 million worth of drugs in eastern Ontario
The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police says one person is facing multiple charges after a traffic complaint on Highway 17 in Head Clara Maria Township.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.