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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA – British Columbians who need to provide care for loved ones who are gravely ill will benefit from legislation that provides greater employment protection, Labour and Citizens’ Services Minister Michael de Jong said today.
“The government believes that workers in B.C. should not have to choose between their job and caring for their family during a serious medical crisis,” said de Jong. “This benefit will allow caregivers to spend time away from work without fear of losing their jobs.”
Amendments to the Employment Standards Act will give an employee who requests time away from their job up to eight weeks of unpaid leave to provide care or support to an immediate family member who is terminally ill. The period of leave would be taken in not less than one-week periods.
“All of us have a right to die with their loved ones surrounding them and in a setting of their choice,” said Wayne Peterson, Executive Director of the Victoria Hospice Society. “This legislation today is a positive step forward and it’s nothing less than what is entitled to those who receive care, as well as those who provide it.”
The Act currently provides job protection for pregnancy, parental, family-related and bereavement leave as well as for jury duty. These amendments will provide the same protection for the purposes of caring for an immediately family member who is at risk of death within 26 weeks.
“In this fast-paced world, it’s often difficult to balance family life and work life,” de Jong added. “Our government is committed to work-life balance and making B.C. workplaces more responsive to workers’ needs.”
Effective January 2004, the Federal government amended legislation allowing employees to take compassionate care leave. The Employment Insurance Act provides payment of Employment Insurance benefits for eligible workers, and the Canada Labour Code amendments provide job protection for federally-regulated employees for that purpose. Changes to the B.C. Employment Standards Act extend this protection to employees in provincially-regulated employment as well.
Many provinces, except Saskatchewan and Quebec,
offer similar benefits. Those two
provinces offer up to 12 weeks leave. Alberta and the Northwest Territories are
the only jurisdictions that do not provide Compassionate Care Leave.
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Director of Communications 250 387-2699 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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