P.E.I. workers will have to wait for paid sick time, says province 

The P.E.I. government says changes that could make paid sick days a reality for more Island workers won't happen until spring 2024 at the earliest. 

Meanwhile, some Island employees say they're worried about the flu season ahead and what that will mean for their paycheques.

Rebecca King, an assistant manager at a retail store in Charlottetown, said the lack of paid sick days affects both her and her child. 

"I have a low immune system," said King. Each day she has to take off means "less money to pay for bills." 

She said it forces her to go to work, even when she's not feeling well. "If I'm... dying, I have to go into work, because I have to make the money." 

Megan Ferguson, the manager of a P.E.I. location of The Body Shop, said she considers herself one of the lucky ones. She gets 10 paid sick days each year, but the people she oversees don't get any.

She said she feels for them, especially as the high cost of living makes it that much tougher to lose a day's pay.

"We know it's important for people to be able to stay home and take care of themselves," said Ferguson. 

She sees a benefit in workers getting paid time off.

"They're going to make better health decisions, so I absolutely think we should figure out a way to make that work." 

Federal legislation that came into force last December requires 10 paid sick days per year for workers in federally regulated industries like banks, airlines, ports, telecommunications and rail transport. 

B.C. is more than one year into granting most workers in the province five employer-paid sick days annually.

Last fall, P.E.I.'s opposition proposed a bill that would compel employers to give their staff at least 10 paid sick days per year, but that idea was voted down.

The Dennis King government said it would hold off on any decisions around sick leave legislation until a review of the Employment Standards Act was complete.