Canada Grants Paid Sick Leave to Rail Workers

On the same day that the U.S. Senate failed to approve sick leave days for unionized railroad workers, the Canadian government announced that rail workers in that county will now have up to 10 paid sick leave days a year.

Canadian Minister of Labor Seamus O’Regan Jr. said railroads are covered under legislation changing the Canada Labor Code to extend sick leave policies to workers in the private sector.

Workers must have been continuously employed for at least 30 days to qualify for paid sick leave.

The policy is effective Dec. 31. Another change that was made that will be effective Dec. 18 is to increase the maximum length of unpaid medical leave from 17 to 27 weeks.

“One thing COVID-19 made crystal clear is that when you’re sick, you should stay home,” said O’Regan Jr. “Ten days of paid sick leave means that more workers won’t have to choose between getting well and getting paid. That’s good for workers and their families, and it’s good for business, too.”

Tags: Canada, paid sick days, paid sick leave, Railroad workers, sick leave