Scheduling time off for COVID-19 vaccination appointments
This message was sent to executive, deans and other senior academic leaders, academic heads, directors and managers, and senior professional leaders in Vancouver and the Okanagan.
6 May, 2021
As BC continues to roll out its provincial vaccination program, the provincial government has announced that employees can have up to three hours of time off, without loss of pay, to get each dose of their COVID-19 vaccine.
These amendments to the Employment Standards Act are retroactive to April 19, 2021. To read the announcement in full, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021LBR0019-000784.
We encourage faculty and staff to work with their supervisors, in order to ensure that vaccination appointments are scheduled with minimal disruption, if they fall within working hours. You are also encouraged to book an appointment at a clinic within close proximity, where possible. For more information about how to register for a vaccine visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register.
Please note, COVID-19 vaccination appointments are not considered a medical appointment or sick leave and fall outside of those collective agreement provisions.
As you previously heard from President Santa Ono, it is vital that members of our community support the provincial vaccination program, as vaccines are the best way to protect against COVID-19. The more people in a community who are immunized against COVID-19, the harder it is for the virus to spread.
If you have any questions, please contact your Human Resources Advisor or Associate:
UBC Vancouver: http://www.hr.ubc.ca/administrators/contact/.
UBC Okanagan: https://hr.ok.ubc.ca/contact/.
As a reminder, updates and FAQs related to COVID-19 can also be found at https://covid19.ubc.ca/ and https://ok.ubc.ca/covid19/.
I hope you and your families keep safe and well.
Marcia Buchholz
Vice-President, Human Resources
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