Taking time off

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.

Job-protected leaves of absence

An employee's job is protected while they are on one of the following leaves of absence:

• Illness or injury leave (sometimes called sick leave)
• Maternity and parental leave
• Family responsibility leave
• Compassionate care leave
• Critical illness or injury leave
• COVID-19 related leaves
• Reservists’ leave
• Leave respecting the disappearance of a child
• Leave respecting the death of a child
• Leave respecting domestic or sexual violence
• Bereavement leave
• Jury duty leave

Statutory holidays

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