Paid sick leave? Family Day? Here’s what you say you want

The NWT government has released the results of surveys on proposed changes to laws governing employment standards in the territory.

Last April, the GNWT asked for feedback on changes to the Employment Standards Act and its regulations, saying a comprehensive review had not been carried out in more than a decade and it wanted to ensure the legislation was on par with other Canadian jurisdictions, reflecting the post-Covid realities of work.

The territory released the survey results in a report this week. For many proposed changes, there was a contrast between the views of employers and employees.

Of the 287 people who participated in the surveys, the majority were in favour of legislating paid sick leave in the NWT. Currently, under territorial legislation, employees are entitled to five unpaid days of sick leave a year.

“It would be great for employees to have paid sick leave, recognizing that other provinces are doing it,” one respondent wrote.

“This will help to attract workers to the NWT, and it can help people take care of their mental health. Paid sick days will also ensure that people don’t come to work when they’re sick.”

Survey respondents were divided, however, on how many paid sick leave days employees should be granted every year. While most employers said employees should receive one to five paid sick leave days, employees and other respondents favoured six to 10 or more.

When it came to the possibility of introducing Family Day as a new statutory holiday in February, employers were split while employees and others largely supported the idea.

Those in favour of the proposal said it would improve mental health and morale, particularly during the long, dark winter. Other respondents raised concerns about the potential cost and lost revenue for small businesses.

The surveys also gauged interest in various kinds of job-protected leave.

All respondents were overwhelmingly supportive of leave related to the death or disappearance of a child, and a proposal to extend bereavement leave to include employees and spouses who experience a prenatal pregnancy loss.

While the majority of employees and others supported proposed family responsibility leave, it was opposed by most employers. More employers also opposed proposed long-term medical leave and leave for traditional Indigenous practices, suggestions supported by many employees.

“Preservation of familial ties in the NWT is important in the work towards countering the impacts of colonialism on family structures. This type of leave will benefit the population,” one respondent wrote.

Finally, respondents were largely in favour of establishing monetary penalties for employers who contravene the act, and most employees supported a public registry for employers with unpaid fines. Employers were divided on that proposal.

“I don’t think a public registry is a good idea, as shaming people is not a good or healthy motivator. This would cost the government more money than it would collect in fines,” one respondent wrote.

Of the people completing the employee and community member survey, approximately 60 percent said they worked for the NWT government. More than 60 percent of respondents said they work in the North Slave region.

The Employment Standards Act sets the minimum standards of employment in the NWT, including hours of work, the minimum wage, statutory holidays and notice requirements for termination of employment.

The act does not apply to federal government workers, NWT government employees, or workers in federally regulated industries such as airlines and banks.

The NWT government said the surveys’ results will inform development of a bill to amend the act. Once ready, that bill will be considered by the Legislative Assembly.