Ontario's caregiver leaves now in effect

In bid to strengthen job security for families, 3 new leaves are now available to workers

Employees in Ontario now have access to three new leaves of absence thanks to the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Leaves to Help Families)  which came into effect on Oct. 29.

This legislation allows caregivers to take time off to care for loved ones without fear of losing their jobs.

The legislation builds on the existing Family Medical Leave by creating additional job-protected leaves:

  • Family Caregiver Leave: up to eight weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employees to provide care or support to a family member with a serious medical condition.
  • Critically Ill Child Care Leave: up to 37 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to provide care to a critically ill child.
  • Crime-Related Child Death or Disappearance Leave: up to 52 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for parents of a missing child and up to 104 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for parents of a child who has died as a result of a crime.

A medical note is required to qualify for Family Caregiver Leave and Critically Ill Child Care Leave and employees who take Critically Ill Child Care Leave or Crime-Related Child Death or Disappearance Leave may also be able to access new federal benefits for critically ill, murdered or missing children.

The leaves are part of the government's plan to strengthen job security and in turn boost the economic plan for Ontario.

The four-part plan seeks to invest in employees, build new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and build a secure savings plan so everyone in the province can afford to retire.

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