An employee can take unpaid leave to provide care or support to a family member who has a serious medical condition, confirmed by a medical or nurse practitioner's certificate.

The amount of leave they can take depends on the age of the family member. They can take up to

• 36 weeks of leave for a family member under 19 years old, and

• up to 16 weeks of leave for a family member 19 years or older.

If the certificate specifies a shorter period for which care or support is required, the employee can only take leave for that period, but they can get additional certificates if needed, up to the maximum number of weeks allowed.

The certificate must state that the family member's baseline state of health has significantly changed and their life is at risk due to an illness or injury, that the care can be provided by non-medical professionals, and specify the period for which the care is required.

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

The leave cannot start before the week when the certificate was issued, or when the family member's health significantly changed.

The leave must be taken in units of one or more weeks and will end when the family member dies or after 52 weeks from the start of the leave, whichever comes first.

If the family member's life remains at risk after 52 weeks, the employee can take another leave by getting a new certificate and following the same rules.

BC ESA s.52.11