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Introduction
Job-protected leaves provide employees time off to deal with life events without losing their job.
- Employees are eligible for most job protected leaves after 90 days of employment with the same employer.
- The full length of leave is available immediately upon becoming eligible.
- Leaves can be taken back-to-back, as long as the employee meets the eligibility requirements for each leave and they haven’t used their available leave days.
- Employers are not required to grant job-protected leave to employees who are not eligible. The employer may still permit the employee to be absent from work, but job protection rules do not apply.
- Leaves are unpaid but in some cases income support may be available from Employment Insurance.
In this section, find the rules, eligibility, notice requirements, and details for each type of job-protected leave.
Types of leaves
Eligible employees can take up to 3 days of unpaid leave upon a family member’s death or a pregnancy loss.
Eligible employees can take up to a half-day of unpaid leave to attend their citizenship ceremony.
Eligible employees can take up to 27 weeks of leave to care for gravely-ill family.
Eligible employees can take unpaid, job-protected leave to provide care and support to a child or family member.
Eligible employees can take leave for the disappearance or death of a child.
Eligible employees can take up to 10 days of unpaid, job-protected leave due to the effects of violence in the home.
Eligible employees can take up to 16 weeks of leave due to illness, injury or quarantine.
Eligible employees can take maternity and/or parental leave after a birth or adoption.
Eligible employees can take up to 5 days of leave for health issues or family needs.
Eligible employees who are reservists can take leave for deployments and training.