Three-hours paid time for COVID-19 vaccinations announced in Manitoba

The province has announced intended amendments to the Employment Standards Code that will allow Manitoba workers to take up to three-hour paid leave to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. Changes align with other Western Canadian provinces and apply to full and part time employees. Employers may ask for reasonable verification of the appointment as long as it is not a physician’s note or medical certificate.

This paid vaccine leave complements the recently announced new Manitoba Pandemic Sick Leave program, which is a voluntary program to reimburse employers who provide employees without sick leave benefits paid time off to employees for absences related to COVID-19 between May 7 and September 25, 2021. The program covers up to $600 per employee for a maximum of five full days of COVID-19 related sick leave.