Effective November 28, 2025, the B.C. Employment Standards Act (ESA) has been updated to clearly set out job protection for workers with a serious illness or injury.

Workers can now take up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave within a period of 52-weeks for medical treatment or recovery. This is called a job protected leave, which means the worker’s job is kept safe while they are off.

The protection applies to all workers covered by the B.C. ESA who are unable to work for at least seven consecutive days due to a serious illness or injury like cancer, heart disease, or multiple sclerosis. Workers can take the time off all at once or in smaller blocks (for example, during treatment).

To qualify, a doctor or nurse practitioner must confirm the worker cannot work due to medical reasons and provide the dates needed for the leave.

The change aligns with federal Employment Insurance sickness benefits and other provinces. This does not create new obligations for employers as they were already required to accommodate workers with serious health issues under the B.C. Human Rights Code. The amendment reinforces and clarifies these expectations under the B.C. ESA.

For more information, you can reach out to your AgSafe Regional HR Consultant who can answer any questions you have.