Taking time off for personal or family reasons

Myth or fact?

Workers are entitled to take time off from work to take care of a sick child.
  • Myth
  • Fact

Every once in a while, life throws you a curveball. Maybe your child runs into trouble at school. Or your sister is injured in an accident and you need to help her get to medical appointments. The Employment Standards Act gives workers the right to take unpaid leaves to deal with these and other types of personal and family responsibilities.

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  • This information applies to British Columbia, Canada
  • Reviewed for legal accuracy in April 2020
  • Time to read: 9 minutes

Reviewed for legal accuracy by

Mary Thibodeau, Moore Edgar Lyster LLP

Mary Thibodeau

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We are grateful to work on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, whose Peoples continue to live on and care for these lands.