Saskatchewan has become the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement a paid leave to allow an employee to take time off work to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Saskatchewan's The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 have been amended to add a new Special Vaccination Leave (s. 6-22.1). Under this provision, workers:
- are entitled to three consecutive hours leave during work hours to receive a COVID-19 vaccination;
- are entitled to more than three consecutive hours if the employer determines the circumstances warrant a longer break from work; and
- do not lose any pay or other benefits while receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
This new regulation came into force on March 18, 2021. It will be interesting to see if any other Canadian jurisdictions follow Saskatchewan's lead in providing this paid vaccination leave. We will keep you informed of any updates.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
