In general, employees are entitled to leaves of absence for the following reasons: pregnancy, parental and adoption responsibilities, illness, family emergency, bereavement, to serve on a jury or as a witness, and to vote. Leaves can be with pay or without pay.
Leave policies and practices must comply with the minimum standards required by law, which vary by province and territory.
Leave policies and practices may exceed minimum standards. To serve your organization's values or goals and to meet your employees' needs, your policy can offer longer leaves than the law requires. Your policy can stipulate that employees will be paid while they are on leave when the law does not say you must. You may also introduce leaves for reasons not covered in the law. For example, educational leave can be a good way to encourage employee development. Your policies will be shaped by your organization's goals, employees' needs and your budget.
Below are links (where available) to information on provincial and territorial websites that deal specifically with maternity, parental and adoption leave.
Information about maternity and parental leave in Alberta.
There is an Employment Standards Fact Sheet on leaves that includes information about pregnancy and parental leave.
The Frequently Asked Questions section covers pregnancy leave, parental leave and adoption leave.
An information sheet on leaves of absence covers information about pregnancy and parental leave.
The website contains very little specific information, but it does have the contact information for the Department of Justice. Visit the legislation website and search on “pregnancy” to read the law on this topic.
Fact sheet on pregnancy and parental leave.
The section on special leave has information about maternity/parental/adoption leave.
The section on absences and leaves for family or parental matters contains information about maternity and parental leave.
Pregnancy and Parenting in the Workplace is a handbook with practical information.
The Labour Services website has a section on maternity and parental leave.
Below are links to provincial and territorial information (where available) about leaves for jury and witness duty.
New Northwest Territories Employment Standards Act
www.gov.pe.ca/courts/sherriff/index.php3
www.justice.gouv.qc.ca/english/publications/generale/jure-a.htm#Employer
Copyright Canadian Child Care Human Resources Sector Council
Formerly funded by the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program
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