HR Home Forums Answer for In BC, can an employer require an employee to take their vacation leave in a non-unionized environment?

Conner Lantz
Keymaster
Post count: 4836

In BC, the employer has the right to authorize the actual timing of vacations as long as the time off is taken within 12 months of the employment anniversary date. Example: Employee starts work March 1, 2019. On Feb 29, 2020, he/she has 12 consecutive months of employment and gets 2 weeks vacation, which he/she must use between March 1, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2021. Vacation days can’t be carried over to the next year. And the employer can’t force the employee to take vacation in units of less than 1 week.
Applying these rules to your situation, yes, I believe the employer can require the employees to use their accrued 2019-2020 vacation as long as it doesn’t require them to take less than a week off at a time. At least that’s my read. I’m going to run this by our payroll expert, Alan McEwen, circle back with u when he responds. Thanks. Glenn