Bargaining Update
CSSEA’s Bargaining Team and the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) continued to meet for throughout November and have additional bargaining dates scheduled in January. Both sides have now exchanged monetary packages and costing is underway. The tone between the parties remains collaborative and the sector continues not to be impacted by any impasse or strike mandates.
The Bargaining Team also presented on funding process issues to CSSEA’s primary funders (Community Living BC, Ministry of Health, BC Housing and Ministry of Children and Family Development) at a special Board meeting convened on November 28, 2025. The parties agreed to explore solutions on how to increase transparency and reliability; there will be further information exchanged in the coming weeks and another meeting scheduled on March 10, 2026.
New Job-Protected Medical Leave
Government recently announced that employees with a serious illness or injury can now take up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within a 12-month period to undergo medical treatment. To access the entitlement, employees are required to obtain a medical certificate from a doctor or nurse practitioner stating they are unable to work due to medical reasons and the dates for which leave is required. For more information, see this Employment Standards Branch resource guide and contact your HRLR Consultant or Advocate if you have additional questions.
Respectful Workplace Webinar Available
CSSEA reminds members that an online learning module entitled Building Respectful Relationships Is available for completion free of charge. The module was developed in collaboration with the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) as a result of collective agreement provisions; it covers topics such as power relationships, emotions and their functions, recognizing conflict, and visualizing a respectful workplace.
The entire course takes approximately 80 minutes to complete and can be finished over multiple sessions, with a certificate issued upon completion. To access the module, visit CSSBA’s website and register for an account. Under access code, please use the following updated code: CSSE-AR92-WXDY-XDE1-7FQ7-WVN5F. If you have any questions, please contact the CSSBA by filling out the online form here.
E-Learning Hub Funding Extension
Due to a recent funding extension from the BC Social Care Leadership Training Grant, managed by the Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training (ASPECT BC), CSSEA continues to offer complimentary access to labour relations courses on the MyLeadershipHub online platform. These self-paced courses, developed in partnership with the EQ Development Group, cover key topics including Performance Management, Conducting Investigations, Understanding the Disciplinary Process, and more. The LR and online leadership courses are free, while the LEAD programs will be offered at a reduced rate. Employers are encouraged to require staff in leadership roles to complete these courses. To register, go to https://cssea.myleadershiphub.com/ and click “Register Now” from the homepage to create a free account. Existing Learning Hub members can continue accessing courses using their existing login credentials. If you have any questions, e-mail: cssea@myleadershiphub.com.
The workplace disability management joint pilot project between the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) and CSSEA is ongoing, and employers wishing to participate now have until the end of December to apply. Participating agencies will have their workplace disability management program assessed and as part of the assessment, employers will receive a complimentary report that identifies gaps, while also contributing to the pilot project’s collection of anonymous aggregate data. Subject to remaining funding, members may also access a subsidy for return-to-work/disability management program improvements. If you have questions about the project please contact Steve Inouye, NIDMAR Director, Program Assessments, at: 778-421-0821, Ext. 218 and or via e-mail at: steve.inouye@nidmar.ca
Winter Driving Webinar
Road Safety at Work recently held a webinar on practical winter driving safety tips. The webinar covered how to prepare for winter travel, tips for driving in changing road and weather conditions, and how to plan your winter driving route. Employers are invited to access the recorded session, slides and a Q&A through this webpage.