Over 60 employers call on Premier Horgan to bring in paid sick leave

Over 60 employers have signed an open letter to Premier Horgan, asking the BC government to take immediate action to ensure every worker in British Columbia has access to paid sick leave — during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Dear Premier Horgan, 

We represent a diverse range of employers: large and small, for-profit and non-profit, across many sectors - from architecture firms to yoga studios. Together, we have over 4,500 employees.

We support your recent announcement to look at introducing paid sick leave, and we encourage you to take urgent, immediate action to ensure every worker in British Columbia has access to paid sick leave — during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

53% of BC workers do not get any paid sick leave at their jobs. For workers earning less than $30,000 (who are disproportionately women and people of colour) that figure rises to 89%.

We’re encouraged that the BC government agrees that nobody should have to choose between staying home when they’re sick and putting food on the table. We’re all safer from infectious disease — COVID, influenza and many others — when sick workers can stay home and help keep their coworkers and the public safe.

A healthy workforce is one that is happier, more likely to stay with us, and even more likely to be productive. It also helps to minimize sickness spreading in the workplace since people feel they can stay home when not feeling well, and not miss out on wages.

Please amend the Employment Standards Act to introduce a paid sick leave entitlement (or provision) for all workers, that lasts beyond the pandemic.

We urge you to take this opportunity to lead the country and create an enduring legacy for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Christine Bergeron, Vancity Credit Union
Katie Belcher, Access Gallery
William Watt, Aptus Benefits Inc
Diana Macdonald, Artee Screen Print
Alisa Hutton, BC Food and Beverage Association
Leila Toledo, BC Civil Liberties Association
Kevin Millisip, BC Libraries Co-Operative
Corina Carroll, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley
Jessica and Doug Masters, Blue Lime Property Maintenance Ltd.
William Azaroff, Brightside Community Homes Foundation
Ed Klarich, Burnaby Blacktop
Katie Jackson, Café Etico Inc.
Tristan Smith, Canadian Roots Exchange
Christopher Girodat, Capilano Students' Union
Emma Carscadden, Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects Inc.
Amanda Macpherson, Chilliwack Restorative Justice and Youth Advocacy Association
Dave Balfour, Clayton Heights Sports & Therapy Center
Stephanie Van de Kemp, Cleanline Automotive
Steve Stewart, CoDevelopment Canada Association
Jennifer Tynan, Greater Trail Community Skills Centre Society
Kim Gould, Convertus Group
Michelle Cooper Iversen, Co-operative Housing Federation of BC and COHO Management Services Society
Sam Bradd, Drawing Change Consulting
Toby Barazzuol, Eclipse Awards
Sarah White and Denise Taschereau, Fairware
Rev Dr Carmen Lansdowne, First United Church Community Ministry Society
Alex Rumi, GOOD BUDS
Kendra Klemke, Goodbye Graffiti
Elia Kirby, GNW Scene Shop
Pierre Cenerelli, The Graduate Student Society at Simon Fraser University
Karyn French, Greater Victoria Police Victim Services
Stephanie Meitz, Green Team Solutions
Lisa Jackson, Hakai Energy Solutions
Lifen Lee, Hastings Law Office LLP
Erica Enstrom, Integra Medical Consulting Inc
Luke Wassell, Junction HVAC/R Ltd
Michelle Fenton, Khôra Architecture + Interiors
Christopher Windjack, LADR Landscape Architects
Stephen Evans, Mission Community Skills Centre Society
Ken Cahoon, ModoHR
Rob Barr, MODUS Planning Design & Engagement Inc.
Ryan Smith, NewAgain Cleaning
Jessica Webb, Open Door Group
Zandi Dandizette, Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres.
Diana Bryant, Pacific Community Resources Society
Laura Miles, Pacifica Housing
Tony Baena, Parc Retirement Living
Christopher Pollard, Ratio Architecture, Interior Design + Planning
Susan Sanderson, Realistic Success Recovery Society
Donna Clarke, Renfrew Collingwood Seniors' Society
Kim Hawkins, Rise Women’s Legal Centre
Jennifer Breakspear, SARA for Women
Mike Gustavson, Sea to Sky Network Solutions
Staff collective, Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group
Stephanie Howell, Society for Children and Youth
David Sargeant, Stabilization Credit Union
John Kay, Realize Strategies Co-operative
Theodora Lamb, Strathcona Business Improvement Association
Tim Ambler, Swish Maintenance Limited
Natasha Bouchie, Technaflora Plant Products
Alyssa Muncy, Themis Security
Allison Felker, Vancity Community Foundation
Steffanie Love, Vancouver Mural Festival
Rob Baxter, Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op
Raji Mangat, West Coast LEAF
Laura Johnson, West Kootenay EcoSociety
Gay Wise, Wise Financial Services
Delanie Dyck, Yoga Outreach