On April 22, 2021, Bill 71: Employment Standards (COVID-19 Vaccination Leave) Amendment Act, 2021 (“Bill 71”) received royal assent to retroactively take effect starting April 21, 2021.
Bill 71 amends the Alberta Employment Standards Code to provide 3 hours of paid leave for any full-time or part-time Alberta employee to receive a COVID-19 vaccination (“COVID-19 Vaccination Leave”).
Before taking a COVID-19 Vaccination Leave, an employee must provide as much notice as is reasonable and practicable under the circumstances. Employers are obligated to ensure that any employee who takes a COVID-19 Vaccination Leave will not lose any earnings or other benefits as a result, regardless of years of service.
Employers are entitled to request that an employee provide proof that they are entitled to the COVID-19 Vaccination Leave, if taken. However, an employee is not required to provide a medical certificate or record of immunization as proof, nor are they required to disclose any underlying medical conditions to the employer.
We will continue to monitor and provide updates as soon as they become available. The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving with new measures being adopted or modified at both the federal and provincial level. For further information, please consult our Coronavirus Resource Centre or feel free to contact any member of our DLA Piper Canadian Employment and Labour Law Service Group, who will ensure that you are acting upon the most up-to-date information.
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