An employee can take up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave from work to take care of a family member who has a serious medical condition and is at risk of dying within 26 weeks, as confirmed by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner.

The employee must provide a copy of the certificate to their employer as soon as possible.

The leave cannot start before the first day of the week when the certification was issued and must be taken in units of one or more weeks.

The leave will end:

• when the family member dies or

• after 52 weeks from the start of the leave, whichever comes first.

If the family member does not die within 52 weeks, the employee can take another leave by getting a new certificate and following the same rules

BC ESA s.52.1