Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in British Columbia (2026)
Employees in British Columbia get at least 10 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (2 weeks). Sick leave: 5 paid days a year.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
High confidenceYour number
10 days a year (80 hours)
Statutory minimum 10 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
Paid sick leave: 5 days a year (40 hours).
This is the legal floor for British Columbia; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 10 days | 2 weeks |
| After 5 years | 15 days | 3 weeks |
2 weeks after 12 months, 3 weeks after 5 years.
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 10 days a year; after 5 years, 15 days.
What the rules mean in practice
In British Columbia, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 10 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 2 weeks…
In British Columbia, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 10 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 2 weeks, rising to 15 days after 5 years of service. The legal wording: 2 weeks after 12 months, 3 weeks after 5 years.
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 4, the same as 11 and lower than 22. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 10 days is about 3.8% of a 260-day working year.
Length of service raises the floor once: 15 days after 5 years.
Statutory (general) holidays are set by each province or territory and are separate from vacation. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for British Columbia lists 11 holidays, 11 of them on working days. An employee who has all 11 weekday holidays off on top of the 10-day minimum is away from work on at least 21 weekdays in 2026.
Sick leave: 5 paid sick days per calendar year after 90 days of employment, plus 3 unpaid days. LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
Statutory (general) holidays are set by each province or territory and are separate from vacation. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for British Columbia, with .ics downloads.
Sources
- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/employment-standards-advice/employment-standards/time-off/vacation
- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/employment-standards-advice/employment-standards/time-off/leaves-of-absence
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in British Columbia
The statutory minimum is 10 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (2 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in British Columbia?
The statutory minimum is 10 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (2 weeks). 2 weeks after 12 months, 3 weeks after 5 years.
Does annual leave increase with length of service in British Columbia?
Yes. The minimum starts at 10 days a year and steps up with completed years of service: 15 days after 5 years.
Is sick leave paid in British Columbia?
Yes. The minimum is 5 paid days a year. 5 paid sick days per calendar year after 90 days of employment, plus 3 unpaid days.
Are public holidays part of annual leave in British Columbia?
Statutory (general) holidays are set by each province or territory and are separate from vacation. In 2026 the calendar for British Columbia has 11 public holidays, 11 of them on working days.