DO NOT INCREASE
MANDATORY EMPLOYER-PAID SICK DAYS!

I CAN’T AFFORD TO COVER INCREASED LABOUR COSTS!

84% of BC small businesses cannot afford 10 mandated employer-paid sick days.*

*Source: CFIB, Your Voice Survey – October 2022, October 6-11

Image of sick employees and a balance with coins on one side, symbolizing the cost of paid sick days for small business owners
5 paid sick days 10 paid sick days 15 paid sick days
5 employees: $8,610 5 employees: $17,220 5 employees: $25,830
10 employees: $17,220 10 employees: $34,440 10 employees: $51,660
25 employees: $34,440 25 employees: $68,880 25 employees: $103,320

Source: CFIB calculations based on Statistics Canada BC median wage data as of November 2022

What they said

The premier reiterated that it’s unfair to force all businesses to suddenly pay for sick days when many are suffering severe financial hardships already caused by the pandemic.

“ ... At a minimum it should be a temporary program until we find a vaccine. ”
— FORMER PREMIER JOHN HORGAN, MAY 15, 2020

What they actually meant

“ But my message to you is that every journey starts with that first step, and our first step is five days, and we can only go up from here. ”
— FORMER PREMIER JOHN HORGAN, DECEMBER 6, 2022

SIGN THE PETITION

Hon. David Eby, Premier of BC

CC: Hon. Harry Bains, Minister of Labour
CC: My Member of Parliament

BC Federation of Labour wants the government to TRIPLE the number of employer-paid sick days from 5 to 15 days. CFIB fought to have 5 days not 10. NOW unions want to INCREASE the number of days.

The cost of doing business is higher than it’s ever been. My pandemic recovery is still uncertain. Now is not the time to dump new costs on small businesses!

Don’t force my business to pay even more. I can’t afford it!

To keep payroll costs affordable and help BC businesses, I urge you:

  • Do not increase the number of employer-paid sick days.
  • Increase the Employment Health Tax exemption threshold.
CFIB

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 97,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings.