April 6, 2021
Effective March 18, 2021, the Government of Saskatchewan amended The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020, to incorporate a Special Vaccination Leave. This new provision allows for paid time off from work for employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. The new section 6-22.1, Special Vaccination Leave, establishes that during the pandemic:
- Workers are entitled to three consecutive hours leave during work hours to receive a COVID-19 vaccination; or
- Workers are entitled to a period longer than three consecutive hours, if in the opinion of the employer, the circumstances warrant a longer break from work; and
- Workers do not lose any pay or other benefits while receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
Employees are to request time off through established request/approval practices (e.g. requesting time off for a medical appointment), and people leaders are obligated to approve the time off without loss of pay and without applying any paid entitlements (like sick leave, vacation leave, previously banked OT/additional time, etc.). Should an employees’ requests for time off present operational challenges for the college/department/unit, please speak with your HR SBA to determine if alternate solutions might exist.