Staples Canada Inc. is the latest Canadian employer to provide employees with paid leave to receive a coronavirus vaccination.
The company will provide up to three hours of paid leave as well as access to educational resources and information sessions with a medical professional about vaccines, according to a press release.
Read: Canada Goose offering paid leave to employees to get coronavirus vaccination
“As one of Canada’s largest national retailers, we recognize the important role we play in the lives of our employees, customers and the communities we serve,” said Wanda Walkden, chief human resources and talent officer at Staples Canada, in the release. “We want to make sure that our employees have access to the information they need to make an informed decision, as vaccination efforts across Canada continue to increase. Supporting employee health and safety is a responsibility we take seriously and providing our employees with paid-time off to receive the vaccine, if they wish to, is a part of that commitment.”
In addition to Staples Canada, Urban Nature Store and Canada Goose Inc. are among the Canadian-headquartered companies offering paid leave for vaccinations. The Saskatchewan government recently amended its occupational health and safety regulations to allow employees to receive paid leave from work to get vaccinated, while British Columbia has enacted job-protected leave for employees who need time off to receive a shot.
Meanwhile, Unifor is currently writing all provincial premiers to mandate both vaccine leave and paid sick days for workers who contract the coronavirus so they can quarantine at home without financial penalty.
Read: Some provinces legislating coronavirus vaccination, leave policies amid union calls for more action