Sick leave · British Columbia
British Columbia paid and unpaid sick leave.
How many sick days British Columbia law gives an employee and whether they are paid. Enter your length of service to see your days.
British Columbia: after 90 consecutive days, up to 5 paid sick days and 3 unpaid sick days each calendar year.
Your situation
Your sick leave days
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British Columbia: paid sick leave rules in detail
| Point | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Paid days | 5 per calendar year, at regular wages |
| Unpaid days | 3 per calendar year |
| Qualifying period | 90 consecutive days |
Notes on this rule
The Act sets the paid days by regulation; the Ministry page states 5. The Act (s. 49.1) also gives the pay formula based on the average day’s pay over the preceding 30 calendar days.
How to use this page
Enter your days of continuous employment with the current employer and, if you like, your pay for one day. The calculator checks the qualifying period and returns the paid and unpaid days the statute gives. Part days, carry-over and employer top-ups are not modelled.
Sources, read directly 19 October 2026: Province of BC - Paid sick leave; BC Employment Standards Act, s. 49.1.
Frequently asked questions
How many sick days does a British Columbia employee get?
British Columbia: after 90 consecutive days, up to 5 paid sick days and 3 unpaid sick days each calendar year.
Do I need to have worked a minimum time first?
The qualifying period is: 90 consecutive days of employment. The calculator above uses your days of continuous employment against that threshold.
Can my employer ask for a doctor’s note?
The source read for this page does not state a rule about medical notes for this leave. Ask the employment standards office if your employer requires one.
Can an employer or a contract give more than this?
Yes. These are statutory minimums. An employment contract, workplace policy or collective agreement can give more, but not less. Union members should check their collective agreement as well.
Where does this British Columbia information come from?
Every figure on this page was read on 19 October 2026 from: Province of BC - Paid sick leave; BC Employment Standards Act, s. 49.1. The links are listed under the rules table above. If a source changes, this page is regenerated from one data file and the verified date is updated.
Reference only — not legal advice
This page states the statutory sick leave entitlement from the published employment-standards legislation or the government’s own guide, read on 19 October 2026. It is not legal advice, does not model a collective agreement or an individual contract, and rules change. For a binding answer, contact the employment standards office named in the source or a lawyer.