Workers with a serious illness or injury can now take as many as 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within a 12-month period to undergo medical treatment and focus on their recovery.

Amendments to B.C.’s Employment Standards Act have come into effect and provide improved job protections for workers who are covered by the act and who are unable to work for at least one week (seven consecutive days) due to a serious illness or injury.

To access the entitlement, employees must obtain a medical certificate from a medical doctor or a nurse practitioner stating that they are unable to work due to medical reasons and the dates during which leave is required. Employers must ensure eligible workers can access the unpaid, job-protected leave.

The Employment Standards Branch has updated publicly available information, including a resource guide to outline how the new leave works and to support employers in their efforts to update workplace policies and practices. Find those links in the Learn More section below.

The change brings British Columbia’s protections up to the standard in place in other jurisdictions in Canada, and complements financial supports available through the federal Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits program.

Learn More:

To learn more about the new job-protected personal illness or injury leave, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/employment-standards-advice/employment-standards/time-off/leaves-of-absence#serious-personal-illness-or-injury  

A resource guide for employers and workers, outlining how the new leave works, is available on the Employment Standards Branch website:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/employment-standards-advice/employment-standards/forms-resources/igm/esa-part-6-section-49-01

To view the Oct. 20, 2025, news release about this legislation, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025LBR0039-001029

For more information about B.C. legislation, visit:
https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/legislation/