Province Proclaims Paid Sick Leave
Island workers will have access to paid sick leave effective October 1, 2024.
Following amendments made to the Employment Standards Act during the most recent fall sitting of the legislature, Island workers will be eligible for up to three paid sick days depending on the length of their continuous employment with the same employer.
After three months continuous service with an employer, an employee is entitled to unpaid leaves of absence of up to three days for sick leave during a twelve-month period. If the employee takes three consecutive days, the employer may ask for a medical certificate.
Effective 1 October 2010, employees who have more than five years of continuous service with the same employer are entitled to one day of paid sick leave and up to three days of unpaid sick leave each calendar year.
As of October 1, 2024, in addition to the unpaid leave available to employees, employees will also be entitled to paid sick leave based on the following:
One day of paid sick leave after 12 months of continuous employment
Two days of paid sick leave after 24 months of continuous employment
Three days of paid sick leave after 36 months of continuous employment.
Once an employee is entitled to paid leave, it shall be given before unpaid leave.
For paid sick leave, employees are entitled to receive their regular rate of wages for the hours they would have worked if they had not requested the leave, or if they are a salaried employee, their regular rate of pay for a day of work.
Source: Government of Prince Edward Island