Canada Sick Leave Calculator
Compare the statutory sick-leave minimum for Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec or a federally regulated workplace, then estimate what remains after leave already used.
Reviewed for 2026 by
Ruby Miller
· HR & Employment Law Content Lead
How the Canada sick leave calculator works
The calculator starts with the statutory minimum for the selected jurisdiction, checks whether you have indicated that the minimum service requirement is met, and then subtracts the sick or medical leave you have already used. It deliberately separates paid-day banks, short-term unpaid days and longer job-protected medical leave, because Canadian employment standards do not treat those as the same thing.
Canada sick leave rules compared for 2026
| Jurisdiction | Short-term statutory minimum | Service requirement | Longer medical protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 3 unpaid sick days per calendar year | At least 2 consecutive weeks for short-term sick leave | Separate long-term illness leave can provide up to 27 weeks unpaid in a 52-week period for a serious medical condition after 13 consecutive weeks |
| British Columbia | 5 paid + 3 unpaid illness/injury days per calendar year | After 90 consecutive days of employment | Separate serious personal illness or injury leave may apply in qualifying cases |
| Quebec | Up to 2 paid days per calendar year after 3 months, shared across qualifying illness/family-related reasons | 3 months continuous service for the 2 paid days | Non-work-related sickness/injury absence can be job-protected for up to 26 weeks in a 12-month period |
| Federal | Medical leave with pay accrues up to 10 days per year | First 3 paid days after an initial 30-day qualifying period; further days accrue under the federal schedule | Up to 27 weeks of unpaid medical leave for qualifying reasons |
What changes by jurisdiction?
Ontario
Most employees covered by Ontario’s Employment Standards Act can take up to 3 unpaid, job-protected sick days each calendar year after working for the employer for at least 2 consecutive weeks. Ontario also introduced a separate long-term illness leave in June 2025 for serious medical conditions.
Ontario sick leave guidance ↗British Columbia
After 90 consecutive days of employment, eligible employees can take up to 5 paid days and 3 unpaid days of illness or injury leave per calendar year. The paid days use BC’s statutory average-day-pay method.
BC illness or injury leave ↗Quebec
Quebec does not provide a simple “2 paid + 8 unpaid sick days” bank. After 3 months of uninterrupted service, the first 2 qualifying absence days in a calendar year are paid, but those 2 days are shared across several qualifying reasons. For non-work-related illness or injury, the employment relationship can be protected for up to 26 weeks in a 12-month period.
CNESST illness guidance ↗Federally regulated workplaces
Employees in federally regulated workplaces can earn medical leave with pay up to a 10-day annual maximum. The first 3 paid days are earned after the initial 30-day qualifying period, then further days accrue under the Canada Labour Code schedule. Up to 27 weeks of unpaid medical leave may also be available.
Federal leave guidance ↗Common sick-leave calculation mistakes
- × Assuming every Canadian worker gets the federal 10 paid days. Federal labour standards cover federally regulated industries and workplaces, not most provincially regulated employees.
- × Treating Quebec as a fixed 10-day sick bank. The 2 paid days are shared across specified qualifying reasons, while sickness or injury protection can extend to 26 weeks.
- × Leaving out BC’s 3 unpaid days. BC’s statutory illness/injury minimum is 5 paid plus 3 unpaid days after the 90-day service threshold.
- × Ignoring a better employment contract. Statutory minimums are a floor. A contract or collective agreement can provide a greater benefit.
Frequently asked questions
How many paid sick days do employees get in Canada?
There is no single number for all Canadian employees. The answer depends on the employment-standards jurisdiction. For example, BC provides 5 paid illness/injury days after 90 days of employment, while Ontario’s basic short-term ESA sick leave is unpaid. Federally regulated employees can accrue up to 10 paid medical-leave days.
Does Ontario have paid sick leave in 2026?
Ontario’s basic Employment Standards Act sick-leave entitlement remains up to 3 unpaid, job-protected days per calendar year for most eligible employees. An employer policy or collective agreement may provide paid sick days above the statutory minimum.
How many sick days are paid in British Columbia?
After 90 consecutive days of employment, eligible BC employees can take up to 5 paid days and 3 unpaid days of job-protected illness or injury leave per calendar year.
Does Quebec give 10 sick days?
Not as a simple 10-day personal sick-leave bank. Quebec provides up to 2 paid qualifying absence days per calendar year after 3 months of uninterrupted service, shared across several reasons. Non-work-related illness or injury may be job-protected for up to 26 weeks in a 12-month period.
Do unused federal paid medical-leave days carry over?
Unused federal medical leave with pay can carry over into the next year up to the 10-day maximum, and carried-over days count toward the maximum that can be earned in the new year.
Sources and methodology
We use primary government employment-standards sources and separate short-term paid/unpaid days from longer medical-leave protection so the calculator does not merge legally different entitlements.
Reviewed by Ruby Miller
Ruby Miller reviews LeaveCalculators.com employment-law and leave-calculation content for clarity, source quality and practical accuracy.
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