October 20,2025
RED FM News Desk
B.C. workers suffering from serious illness or injury could soon have stronger job protection under a proposed amendment to the Employment Standards Act.
The amendment would allow employees to take up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within a 12-month period for medical treatment and recovery.
The proposed change would bring British Columbia in line with other Canadian provinces and align with the federal Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits program.
“People should never have to choose between their job and their health,” said Premier David Eby. “This amendment will give workers facing serious illness or injury the peace of mind to focus on recovery, while helping employers retain skilled staff. It’s about making B.C. a better place to live and work.”
At present, the act does not provide long-term job protection for employees unable to work due to serious illness or injury. Although such workers are covered under the B.C. Human Rights Code, the amendment would formally enshrine this protection in the Employment Standards Act.
“Every British Columbian knows someone who has faced a life-changing diagnosis like cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, or Parkinson’s,” said Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside. “At such a critical time, people deserve the security of knowing their job is protected while they receive treatment and recover. With roughly 31,000 new cancer diagnoses in B.C. each year, this change is crucial for workers and their families.”
The protection would apply to all employees under the act who cannot work for at least seven consecutive days due to a serious personal illness or injury. Leave could be taken at all or in smaller segments to accommodate ongoing treatments, such as chemotherapy, or recurring illnesses.
To qualify, workers would need a medical certificate from a doctor or nurse practitioner confirming their inability to work and the duration of leave required.
The Ministry of Labour consulted employers, workers, and health-care advocates while drafting the amendment. Most expressed support, agreeing that workers should have the assurance that their jobs will be secure upon returning to work.
Quick Facts:
Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador already provide up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected sick leave. Saskatchewan is set to introduce similar provisions.
Around 245,000 people in B.C. are living with cancer, with 42% surviving more than 10 years after diagnosis.
At any time, 8–12% of Canada’s workforce is off work due to injury or disability benefits.
Serious injuries covered may include long-term harm resulting from intimate-partner violence or motor vehicle accidents.
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