Taking time off

Last updated on January 31, 2024

Effective January 1, 2022, eligible employees can take up to 5 paid days and 3 unpaid days of job-protected illness or injury leave (sometimes called sick leave).


Annual vacation

After one year of work, employees get to take vacation days – time off with pay.

Employers may allow employees to use vacation time to deal with unexpected situations. An employer can schedule your vacation according to business needs.


Unexpected time off

Employees can take time away from work to deal with unexpected illnesses or life situations. An employee's job is protected while they are on leave. Employees can take a leave of absence for things like family responsibilities or sick days.


Employee absences

Employers need to follow B.C. employment standards if their business is unexpectedly disrupted or employees must be absent from work.



Statutory holidays

A statutory holiday does not necessarily mean employees get a day off. Instead, employees may qualify for statutory holiday pay.

What you can do

If you're having issues at work, find out what you can do: