Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan Jr. has announced that the final regulations required to bring 10 days of paid sick leave into force on December 1, 2022, are now available on Canada.ca. This is a permanent change to the Canada Labour Code that the government says will empower workers to prioritize their health and will improve the working conditions for the nearly 1 million workers in the federally regulated private sector.

The federally regulated private sector comprises workplaces from a broad range of industries, including interprovincial air, rail, road and marine transportation; banks; postal and courier services; and radio and television broadcasting. There are approximately 19,000 employers in federally regulated industries, including federal Crown corporations, that together employ 6% of all Canadian employees.

As of December 31, 2022, employees who have been continuously employed for at least 30 days will have access to their first three days of paid sick leave. As of February 1, 2023, employees will acquire a fourth day and will continue to accumulate one day a month up to a maximum of 10 days per year.

Employers can request a medical certificate if an employee is absent for five days or more in a row. Employees on paid sick leave who are paid on a basis other than time, such as salespeople paid by commission, will be entitled to the regular rate of wages.