Service Canada collects personal information you put in an EI benefit application to decide if you qualify for EI benefits. Termination of employment may occur if: Employers can’t discriminate against, lay off, terminate or require an employee to resign because of pregnancy or childbirth. are not entitled to top-up benefits payments. Maternity and parental leave for Support Staff, Academic Staff, and Management and Professional Staff (MAPS). Learn more. Maternity leave benefits are payments given to mothers who can’t work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth. However, an Alberta employer can ask a pregnant employee to provide certain information related to her medical condition, as in any other health related absence. Employers can’t discriminate against, lay off or terminate an employee, or require them to resign, because of pregnancy or childbirth. Some employers provide additional money to employees on maternity or parental leave. Maternity and Parental Leave Tip Sheet for Birth Mothers: Operating, Parental Leave Tip Sheet for Fathers and Adoptive Parents: Operating, Maternity and Parental Leave Tip Sheet for Birth Mothers: Trust, Parental Leave Tip Sheet for Fathers and Adoptive Parents: Trust, Management and Professional Staff (MAPS) Handbook, Service Canada Application for EI Benefits, Initiate your application a minimum of 3 months in advance of your expected due date, Review your applicable Collective Agreement, Initiate your application for leave as soon as possible. Our vision is a vibrant and inclusive Alberta where the rich diversity of people is celebrated and respected, and where everyone has the opportunity to fully participate in society, free from discrimination. When an employee returns from a maternity, parental or adoption leave, the employee will be returned to the employee’s former position or a comparable position in the same department, at a comparable salary. Pregnancy is included under the ground of gender, thus the law prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy. If an employee has a miscarriage or stillbirth within 16 weeks of the due date they are still entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave, but not parental leave. Julie takes the full 15 weeks of maternity benefits she is entitled to. This directive describes the conditions under which managers or opted out or excluded employees qualify for maternity, parental or adoption leave, the duration and starting date of the leave, benefit coverage during the leave, entitlement to illness benefits before and during the leave, and what happens when they return to work. The health related part of maternity leave is where the woman's health condition meets the employer's normal rules for being away from work because of health. Service Canada uses the information to determine: You can visit My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to view ROEs that have been issued to you by past and current employers. Sami decides to take 39 weeks of extended parental benefits. Employees should be aware of this before taking their leave. Where possible, an employer should try to modify the workplace so the employee can work without harming herself or the baby she carries. If you don't complete the application, you can come back to it later using a temporary password that you receive when you start your application. We received your form submission, and will be in touch soon. For help calculating the one-year period, contact the Commission.February 2012. To access maternity leave, you must provide a minimum of 6 weeks written notice to the school division. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); You'll need to provide them to Service Canada as soon as possible after you submit your EI application. For maternity and standard parental benefits, you'll receive at least $500 per week before taxes but you could receive more. However, an Alberta employer can ask a pregnant employee to provide certain information related to her medical condition, as in any other health related absence. You will be required to work at the university for at least six months to retain your top-up payments. COVID-19: Cases continue rising across Alberta. If you are going to apply for parental leave, inform your manager or supervisor and document it by sending them an email as soon as possible. the employer agrees to an early return to duties, and, the employee provides a medical certificate stating the return will not endanger her health. To calculate your benefit amount, we use a specific number of your highest paid weeks of employment. If your employer issues paper ROEs, you must request copies of all ROEs issued to you in the past 52 weeks. Although Alberta’s Employment Standards Code outlines regulations surrounding maternity and parental leave, it is still a good idea for all employers to have a company policy in place. The employer retains the right to recover from the employee’s pay any outstanding benefit plan premiums that are in arrears. In Alberta, employers are legally required to continue paying the health related part of maternity leave benefit premiums if they pay for employee benefit premiums when their employees are sick. EI maternity and parental benefits: What these benefits offer, Consult the changes to the Employment Insurance benefits, You only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because you'll get a one-time credit of 480 insured hours to help you meet the required 600 insured hours of work, For maternity and standard parental benefits, you'll receive at least $500 per week before taxes but you could receive more. To begin your application process, inform your manager or supervisor and document your notice by sending them an email as soon as possible. Casual Employees: Continuing and Temporary EmployeesYou are eligible for parental leave with top-up benefits payments. Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2R3 Make sure you have the following information to complete your application: The online application takes about an hour to complete. Leave must begin within 13 weeks of the estimated due date and no later than the date of birth. The department will approve the date the maternity, parental or adoption leave begins, unless an employee: The department will not set a date that is earlier than twelve (12) weeks before the expected date of delivery unless the employee requests an earlier date. An employee who feels they have been improperly terminated can file an employment standards complaint. This is called a top-up. An employee will be granted leave without pay if: A pregnant employee shall be granted up to seventy-eight (78) weeks of leave without pay which includes a combined total of not more than sixteen (16) weeks maternity leave and sixty-two (62) consecutive weeks of parental leave immediately following the last day of her maternity leave. This directive describes how managers and opted out and excluded employees request a leave of absence without pay, benefit coverage during a leave of absence, and what happens when they return to work or resign during the leave. If this time falls while the employee is on leave, the employee must: No employer may terminate the employment of, or lay off an employee solely because the employee is entitled to or has started maternity or parental leave. However, an Alberta employer can ask a pregnant employee to provide certain information related to her medical condition, as in any other health related absence. What to do when you are getting ready to take Maternity or Parental Leave: Confirm your eligibility in the Management and Professional Staff (MAPS) Handbook. Parents who intend to share parental leave must advise their respective employers of their intention to do so. you will receive top-up benefits payments in conjunction with your EI maternity benefits payments so that your total payments will be 95% of your regular weekly salary. Employers should inform employees of existing benefit plans. Get a free callback from one of our experts, This site uses cookies. The legislation entitles eligible employees to a period of leave without pay, at the end of which they must be reinstated in their same, or an equivalent, job. It is important to be aware that the eligibility requirements for Employment Insurance benefits and eligibility to take a job-protected leave in Alberta may be different. A maximum of 15 weeks of benefits is available. A parental leave, for birth mothers, fathers and adoptive parents, can be up to 37 weeks in length. Effective January 1, 2019, changes to the Employment Standards Code (ESC) will apply to all employees under the NASA collective agreement.The ESC will supersede the NASA collective agreement in areas where the agreement falls below the minimum employment standards. For more information, contact Alberta Human Rights Commission.