Serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave
If you have used all of your paid sick leave and can’t return to work because of a serious illness or injury, you should apply for serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave.
If you are in the third month of your absence from work due to illness or injury and it is unlikely that you will be able to make a full return to work, you should also apply for long-term disability. Learn more about long-term disability benefits.
What is serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave?
Under the BC Employment Standards Act, you may be eligible for up to 27 weeks of job‑protected, unpaid leave for a serious illness or injury within a 52-week period. This includes any paid sick leave you have already taken.
To qualify, a medical practitioner must provide a certificate confirming that you can’t work for medical reasons.
How and when to apply for serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave
If you have used up all of your paid sick leave and are still unable to return to work, you should apply for the serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave. Apply to your department in writing, including a doctor’s certification stating:
- You cannot work for medical reasons
- The date the leave begins
- The date you expect to return to work
Your department will then place you on serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave.
You must take this leave in units of one or more weeks. For example, if you take a leave of 8 days, it counts as 2 full weeks of leave. A week is any consecutive 7-day period. The 52-week period begins on the day when the certificate is issued or the first leave begins (whichever comes first).
How much leave can faculty and staff take for serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave?
The time off taken for paid sick leave and serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave cannot exceed 27 weeks within any 52-week period. Sick leave taken for unrelated illnesses and injuries not related to the serious illness or injury would not be included in the 27 weeks.
After 27 weeks have expired and you need to take more time off due to your illness or injury, you should apply for unpaid sick leave.
You may be able to take additional leave within the same 52‑week period if you haven’t used all 27 weeks and either:
- Provide your department with a new medical certificate, or
- Return to work earlier than planned, but need to take more leave before your originally expected return‑to‑work date.
Employment Insurance (EI)
If you are going on a serious illness/injury protected unpaid medical leave, you should apply for Employment Insurance as soon as you know the dates of your leave.
A Record of Employment (ROE) is required for your EI application. You do not need to request a ROE from UBC as your Payroll Representative will send your ROE electronically to Service Canada following your last paycheque.
If you would like to speak with someone at UBC regarding your ROE:
- UBC Vancouver Faculty and Staff Payroll Representatives
- Please log in to the UBC Finance portal with your CWL to access contact details for the Payroll representatives.
- UBC Okanagan Staff and Faculty Payroll Representatives
Applying for Employment Insurance (EI)
Details on applying for Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits can be found on the Service Canada website.
For medical leaves of more than six months (four months for CUPE 2950), you may be eligible to apply for the Income Replacement Plan/Disability Benefits Plan.
What happens to my benefits when I’m on a serious illness/injury protected medical leave?
If you wish to keep some or all of your benefits, UBC will continue to pay the employer portion of your benefit premiums. You are then responsible for paying the employee portion of the premiums that are normally deducted from your paycheque.
See Benefits Coverage while on a Leave for more information.