Changes to compassionate care – what you need to know

The new Liberal government has agreed to honour legislation that was passed by its predecessor – here’s how it will affect you

In June of last year, the government passed legislation that would considerably extend compassionate care leave benefits beginning 2016 – now, the Liberals have agreed to honour that promise. Here’s how it will affect you.

“If you are an employer whose employment standards provisions are federally regulated – for example a bank, airline, radio or television station, or interprovincial transport company – then your employees are eligible for this increased amount of compassionate care leave, provided that the employee qualifies under the provisions of the Canada Labour Code,” explains employment lawyer Glenn Tait.

“If you are any other employer, then these changes do not impact you,” he clarifies.
As of January 3, compassionate care leave under the Canada Labour Code has been expanded from eight weeks to 28 weeks – eligible employees are also entitled to as much as 26 weeks of Employment Insurance benefits.

McLennan Ross partner Tait also stressed that the requirement to provide employees with compassionate care leave is regulated by specific provincial or territorial employment standards legislation.

“In Alberta, the NWT and Nunavut, compassionate care leave remains limited to eight weeks,” he reveals. “Unless you have agreed with your employees, for example through a collective agreement, to provide a greater amount of compassionate care leave, this is your only legal obligation.”

More like this:

Senate’s ground-breaking HRD fights for job 

Global diversity head criticizes quotas 

Apple’s top five earn eight-figure salaries
 

Recent articles & video

Are provinces properly using funds to recruit, retain healthcare workers?

UPS laying off hundreds of workers at Ontario air hub

Ottawa sees surge in Driver Inc. fines in past 6 months

About 800 million employees at risk as world gets hotter: study

Most Read Articles

Federal minimum wage rising April 1

Dollar Tree closing 1,000 stores

Can an employer change its contractual obligations after termination?