Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

The provincial government is under pressure to triple the number of employer-paid sick days from five to 15 each year but the Minister of Labour has told the Penticton Chamber of Commerce that isn't going to happen.

“The chamber is grateful that the Honourable Harry Bains replied to our concern in writing, stating that while he is aware of the (B.C. Federation of Labour’s) request, the government is not currently considering any amendments to the paid sick leave entitlement, including amounts. This provides the reassurance our members needed to budget for 2023," the Penticton chamber's executive director Michael Magnusson said in a media release issued today, Feb. 9.

The B.C. Federation of Labour passed a resolution in November to lobby for the increase. “Our first step is five days, and we can only go up from here,” former-Premier John Horgan said in a speech at the federation's convention where the resolution was passed. 

The resolution and Horgan's comments were concerning for members of the Penticton chamber.

“Our members and businesses throughout Penticton and B.C. are still evaluating the impact of employer-paid sick days,” Jonathan McGraw, Chamber president said in the release. “The last thing they wanted to hear was that it may be increasing three-fold, especially when they are still facing so many other challenges beyond their control, from inflation to supply-chain breakdowns to a lack of workers.”

The Penticton chamber’s initial letter to the Minister argued that paid sick days disproportionately hurt small and medium sized businesses.

“To be candid, it is easy for the B.C. Federation of Labour to publicly make this proposal when they do not have to financially contribute to the outcome,” it reads.

“If they feel that the current five employer-paid sick days is insufficient, then we recommend they encourage their members to bargain for 15 paid sick days when their respective collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal rather than trying to circumvent the collective bargaining process altogether and have the government mandate it instead.”

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