BC introduces 27-week unpaid medical leave

Summary#

• This bill adds a new job‑protected unpaid leave in British Columbia for workers who face a serious personal illness or injury.

• It lets eligible employees take up to 27 weeks off in any 52‑week period if they are unable to work for at least one week, with a medical note.

• Key points:

  • Up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job‑protected leave for your own serious illness or injury.
  • You must provide a certificate from a health practitioner (doctor, nurse practitioner, or another regulated health professional the government names).
  • Leave is taken in full‑week blocks and can be split into more than one period within the same 52‑week window.
  • The medical note must say you cannot work, when that started, and when you are expected to return.
  • The government will set the minimum number of days you must have worked for your employer before you qualify.

What it means for you#

• Workers

  • If you have a serious illness or injury that keeps you from working for at least a week, you can take up to about six months off without losing your job.
  • You need a medical note that confirms you cannot work, when it began, and your expected return date. You must give this to your employer as soon as you can.
  • You can take the leave in one or more stretches, but only in full weeks, up to 27 weeks total within a 52‑week period.
  • If you return to work and then need to leave again before the expected return date on your note, you can go back on leave without getting a new note (as long as you are still within the 27 weeks and the same 52‑week period).
  • If your condition changes and you need more time beyond the date on your note, you can take more weeks (up to 27 total) if you get a new note and you are still within the same 52‑week period.
  • There will be a required minimum time with your employer before you qualify. The exact number of days will be set by the government.

• Employers

  • You must allow eligible employees up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave for their own serious illness or injury within any 52‑week period.
  • You can require a medical certificate and should plan for leave to be taken in weekly blocks. Employees may stop and start leave within the same 52‑week period.
  • Employees must give you the certificate as soon as possible. The note must include start date of the inability to work and expected return date.

• Health practitioners

  • You may be asked to issue certificates that confirm the worker cannot work, when that began, and the expected return date.
  • Doctors and nurse practitioners can issue notes. The government may also authorize other regulated health professionals to do so.

• New hires

  • Eligibility will depend on a minimum number of days worked with the employer. The exact threshold will be set later.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Gives workers time to recover from cancer, major injuries, and other serious conditions without risking their jobs.
• Lines up job protection with longer recovery times, and avoids forcing people back to work too soon.
• Clear medical‑note rules help ensure the leave is used for real health needs.
• Using full‑week blocks makes planning easier for both workers and employers.
• Unpaid leave limits direct costs for employers while still protecting health and jobs.

Opponents' View#

• Up to 27 weeks away can strain small workplaces that struggle to replace staff for long periods.
• Weekly block rules may reduce flexibility for partial returns or fluctuating conditions.
• The medical certificate requirement adds paperwork and may create costs or delays for workers seeking appointments.
• The bill leaves key details, like the minimum days of employment to qualify, to be set later, creating uncertainty for businesses and workers.
• Because the leave is unpaid, lower‑income workers may be unable to use it, limiting its real‑world benefit.