As an emergency response measure, the federal government has introduced up to 16 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave under the Canada Labour Code for federal employees who are "unable or unavailable to work for reasons related to COVID-19".
In BC, employment standards for most employees are governed by the provincial Employment Standards Act. However, if your business is in a federally regulated industry, you must comply with the federal employment standards under the Canada Labour Code. The industries over which the federal government has jurisdiction include:
- banks
- marine shipping, ferry and port services
- air transportation, including airports, aerodromes and airlines
- railway and road transportation that involves crossing provincial or international borders
- telephone and cable systems
- radio and television broadcasting
- businesses dealing with the protection of fisheries as a natural resource
- many First Nation activities
The determination of whether an employee falls under provincial or federal jurisdiction is fact-specific and should be made on a case-by-case basis.
The circumstances under which an employee is entitled to the new Canada Labour Code leave must be as a result of COVID-19, in each case. In order to take a COVID-19 leave, employees must, as soon as possible, in writing, give their employer notice of the reason for the leave, the intended length of the leave and any changes to the length of the leave. The employer may require an employee to provide a written declaration in support of the reasons for the leave of absence and of any change in the length of that leave.
An employer is prohibited from dismissing, suspending, laying off, demoting or disciplining an employee because the employee intends to take or has taken a COVID-19 related leave of absence. The pension, health and disability benefits and the seniority of an employee who is absent from work due to a COVID-19 leave accumulate during the entire period of the leave. An employee's vacation may be interrupted to take COVID-19 leave, which is consistent with other leaves under the Canada Labour Code.
Federally regulated employees with over 90 days of employment are generally entitled to up to 3 days of paid sick leave under the Canada Labour Code. This entitlement is not specific to COVID-19.
For details regarding the provincial COVID-19 related-leave of which we recently advised you, please see our article here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.