The new B.C. Family Day statutory holiday introduced this week will hurt the province’s economy unless it is paired with some significant changes to the Employment Standards.
This is the thought of the Independent Contractors and Business Association of B.C.
“Everyone likes an extra day off, but what this means is that the private sector and taxpayers are on the hook for the extra costs — paying people not to work,” said ICBA president Philip Hochstein.
“In a fragile global economy, imposing new costs on business will do little to boost productivity and job creation.
“I’m not sure the message I would want to take to global investors looking for a safe haven for their money is ‘we’re adding to business costs in an economic downturn.’”
The provincial government announced the new holiday, which will begin in February, 2013, during their throne speech on Monday.
Hochstein said Family Day is only a good idea if all the rules around employment are re-examined and updated to better reflect the changing nature of work and the workplace.
“Our employment laws are stuck in the past. They’re based on people going to work from 9-to-5 in a factory or office. Many people just don’t do that anymore,” Hochstein said. “Government shouldn’t just add a new holiday and costs for business – they should look at how we can modernize our entire standards system at the same time,” Hochstein said.
