Job-protected medical leave lets workers return to work after serious illness

October 20, 2025

Workers with a serious illness or injury will have improved job protection under a proposed amendment to the Employment Standards Act.

Following the changes, working people will be able to take as many as 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within a 12-month period to undergo medical treatment and recovery.

The amendment will bring British Columbia’s protections up to the standard that is already in place in other jurisdictions in Canada, and in alignment with financial supports provided by the federal Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits program.

“People should never have to choose between their job and their health. This proposed amendment ensures that people with a serious injury or illness have the peace of mind to focus on their recovery, and employers will be better able to retain their skilled talent. This change is about making B.C. a better place to live and work.”

Currently, there are no provisions under the act that provide long-term job-protected leave for employees who are unable to work due to their own serious illness or injury. While workers who experience long-term illness or disability have existing legal protections against discrimination under the B.C. Human Rights Code, the proposed changes will ensure that the protection is built into the Employment Standards Act.

Source: Read the full article here