On October 20, 2025, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 30, the Employment Standards (Serious Illness or Injury Leave) Amendment Act, 2025. This Bill proposes to expand job-protected leave entitlements under the BC Employment Standards Act (ESA).
In its current form, Bill 30 would provide qualified employees up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within a 52-week period if they are unable to work due to a serious personal injury or illness. The proposed extended leave is intended to assist employees with long-term medical treatment and recovery, bringing BC’s employment standards protections in line with several other Canadian jurisdictions and the federal Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits program.
Employees wishing to qualify for this leave would be required to present a certificate from a health practitioner setting out that the employee is unable to work due to a medical condition, as well as the start and end dates of the leave. This medical certificate requirement differs from short-term sick leave. The new rules under the ESA regarding...
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