Paid Sick days are key to maintaining safe workplaces, public heath, and the economy.
Yukon Federation of Labour Responds to Yukon Government’s Proposal to Extend Sick Leave Rebate Program
The Yukon Federation of Labour (YFL) acknowledges the Yukon Government’s proposal to extend the Paid Sick Leave Rebate program until April 2026. While the YFL appreciates the initiative as a step towards ensuring workers do not have to choose between their health and their income, several concerns and calls for improvement need to be addressed.
The YFL supports the program as it provides a safety net for workers who might not have access to paid sick leave through their employers. It is seen as a positive step towards ensuring workers’ health and financial stability. However, the program’s end date of March 31, 2026, and the fact that not all Yukon workers are covered are significant concerns. Additionally, the program is still not a legislated minimum requirement for employers to provide sick leave, remaining a tax-paid incentive to employers using the program in good faith.
The 30-day window for submitting applications and supporting documentation could be challenging for some workers, especially those still recovering from illness. The strict criteria also exclude many workers, particularly non-residents, those not employed continuously for the required period, and those with higher wages. This means that even if a worker is employed in Yukon, they might still not be eligible for paid sick leave under this program. Unused sick leave does not carry forward to future years, something that would greatly benefit our aging workforce.
The YFL advocates for a permanent solution that legislates a minimum standard for employers to meet or exceed, similar to federally regulated workers under the Canada Labour Code. The YFL calls for a minimum of 10 days of sick leave, an increase in the 40-hour cap per year, and a revaluation of the exclusions to ensure more workers can benefit from the program. This should include allowing unused sick leave to carry over to the next year. A more flexible application process with a longer submission window and less stringent eligibility criteria so all Yukon workers can access sick leave.
Paid sick days are crucial for maintaining safe workplaces, public health, and the economy. Legislating paid sick days will protect the most precarious among us and make all of us safer. Paid sick days help businesses reduce turnover and improve worker productivity. When companies respond to the needs of working families, workers are more committed and productive, and workplaces stay healthy.
Going to work sick results in more mistakes and a higher risk of injury; paid sick days are proven to reduce injuries at work and reduce the chance of workers leaving a job. Health care workers know that when patients don’t have paid sick days, they stay sick longer, can get others around them sick, and the burden on the health care system is high.
The cost of workers going to work sick can be up to 10 times higher than the cost for absenteeism. Additionally, the cost of not offering paid sick leave is greater for employers. How many times have you heard “I can’t afford to take time off”? But what is the cost when the potential for disease transmission is high? Consider those in care work, schools, the food industry, customer service, hospitality, or public-facing jobs.
The YFL urges the Yukon Government to address these identified issues to establish a permanent sick leave provision in Yukon, more effective and inclusive for all workers, that meets the standards in the Canada Labour code for federally regulated workers.
Sources:
Yukon Making Work Safe Panel Recommendations 2022
Decent Work & Health Network – Myths and Truths about Paid Sick Leave
About the Yukon Federation of Labour:
The Yukon Federation of Labour works for the interests and advancement of all Yukon workers’ rights. We are an umbrella organization made up of affiliated unions and locals from throughout the Yukon.
