Taking time off from work is often necessary, whether for health reasons, family responsibilities, or other life events. Fortunately, eligible employees in Alberta have access to job-protected leaves of absence under provincial employment standards legislation.
This guide is part of our series on Leave of Absence in Canada, providing an overview of the various leave entitlements in Alberta. It covers eligibility rules, required notices, and other important details that both employees and employers should understand about leave of absence in Alberta.
What is the Purpose of Employment Standards and Leave Laws in Alberta?
Alberta Employment Standards Code sets out the minimum standards for employment in the province. It aims to ensure fair and consistent treatment for both employees and employers.
The Code covers many aspects of the workplace, such as hours of work, vacation and paid time off policies, termination notice, and job-protected leaves of absence in Alberta. Its purpose is to establish a framework for a productive employment relationship built on mutual understanding and respect.
What are the Types of Job-Protected Leave of Absence in Alberta?
The Employment Standards Code provides the following ten job-protected leaves for eligible employees:
Bereavement Leave Alberta
Alberta Bereavement leave allows employees time off to mourn or attend to matters related to the death of a family member.
Eligibility and Entitlement
To qualify for bereavement leave in Alberta:
- Employees must have worked for the same employer for at least 90 days.
- Up to 3 days of unpaid leave are available per calendar year.
- The leave can be taken upon the death of an immediate or extended family member.
Employers must grant eligible employees their bereavement leave and provide them with their same or equivalent job when they return.
Length of Leave
Eligible employees may take up to 3 days of unpaid bereavement leave per calendar year. Any unused days cannot be carried over.
Notice Requirements
Employees must inform their employer as soon as reasonably possible before taking bereavement leave. Documentation is not required by law, although employers may request it.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/bereavement-leave
Citizenship Ceremony Leave Alberta
This leave allows employees to attend their Canadian citizenship ceremony.
Eligibility and Entitlement
The eligibility criteria for citizenship ceremony leave in Alberta are:
- Employees must have worked for the same employer for at least 90 days.
- One unpaid half-day off is permitted to attend the ceremony.
Employers must grant the leave to eligible employees and reinstate them in their same or comparable jobs afterwards.
Length of Leave
Eligible employees are entitled to one half-day (up to 4 hours) of unpaid leave to attend their citizenship ceremony.
Notice Requirements
Employees should provide as much notice as reasonably possible to their employer before taking citizenship ceremony leave.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/citizenship-ceremony-leave
Compassionate Care Leave Alberta
This allows employees to take extended time off work to provide end-of-life care for a gravely ill family member.
Eligibility and Entitlement
The eligibility criteria to qualify for compassionate care leave in Alberta are:
- Employees must have completed 90 days of employment with the same employer.
- They must be caring for a family member at significant risk of death within 26 weeks, as confirmed by a medical certificate.
Up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave are available, with job protection, for eligible employees.
Length of Leave
Eligible employees can take up to 27 weeks of compassionate care leave. It can be taken in multiple periods of at least 1 week each.
Notice Requirements
Employees must give at least 2 weeks’ written notice of their leave along with a medical certificate confirming the family member’s grave illness. For leaves commencing sooner, notice should be provided as soon as possible. One week’s notice is required to end the leave early.
EI Compassionate Care
Employees taking compassionate care leave may also qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. To receive EI benefits while on leave, eligible applicants must have at least 600 insured hours of work in the past 52 weeks. Benefits equal 55% of average weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $695 per week in 2025. Contact the Government of Canada for full eligibility details and to apply for EI caregiving benefits.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/compassionate-care-leave
Critical Illness Leave Alberta
This provides job protection for employees caring for critically ill or injured family members.
Eligibility and Entitlement
To qualify for critical illness leave in Alberta:
- Employees must have been employed by the same employer for at least 90 days.
- They must be caring for a critically ill or injured child, parent, spouse, or other defined family member.
Eligible employees can take up to 36 weeks of leave for a critically ill child and up to 16 weeks for a critically ill adult, without pay or benefits unless stated otherwise under an employment contract.
Length of Leave
- Up to 36 weeks of leave can be taken to care for a critically ill child under 18 years of age.
- Up to 16 weeks of leave can be taken to care for a critically ill adult family member.
The leave may be taken in periods of at least 1 week at a time.
Notice Requirements
Employees must provide their employer with a medical certificate confirming the critical illness or injury and give at least 2 weeks written notice of the leave if possible. One week’s notice is required to end the leave early.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/critical-illness-leave
Death or Disappearance of Child Leave Alberta
This leave supports parents dealing with the unthinkable loss of a missing or deceased child due to a probable crime.
Eligibility and Entitlement
To be eligible for this leave:
- Employees must have been employed by the same employer for at least 90 days.
- It must be probable that the death or disappearance of an employee’s child under 18 years of age was the result of a crime.
Eligible employees can take up to 52 weeks of leave if their child has disappeared or up to 104 weeks if their child has died without pay or benefits unless stated otherwise under an employment contract.
Length of Leave
- Up to 52 weeks of leave if an employee’s child disappears.
- Up to 104 weeks of leave if an employee’s child dies.
Notice Requirements
Employees must provide their employer with reasonable verification that they are entitled to the leave as soon as possible. Written notice should also be provided with the estimated return to work date. One week’s notice is required to end the leave early.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/death-disappearance-of-child-leave
Domestic Violence Leave Alberta
This leave supports employees dealing with domestic violence.
Eligibility and Entitlement
To qualify for domestic violence leave in Alberta:
- Employees must have completed 90 days of employment with the same employer.
- They, their dependent child, or another protected household member must have experienced domestic violence.
Eligible employees can take up to 10 days of unpaid domestic violence leave per calendar year without risk of losing their jobs.
Length of Leave
Eligible employees can take up to 10 days of domestic violence leave each calendar year. Unused days cannot be carried over.
Notice Requirements
Employees must notify their employer as soon as reasonably possible before taking domestic violence leave. Supporting documentation is not required.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/domestic-violence-leave
Long-Term Illness and Injury Leave Alberta
This provides extended leave for employees unable to work due to personal illness, injury, or quarantine.
Eligibility and Entitlement
To qualify for long-term illness and injury leave in Alberta:
- Employees must have completed 90 days of employment with the same employer.
- They must provide a medical certificate confirming they require leave due to illness, injury, or quarantine.
Eligible employees can take up to 16 weeks of unpaid leave per calendar year, with job protection.
Length of Leave
Eligible employees can take up to 16 weeks of long-term illness and injury leave per calendar year. The leave can be taken intermittently if medically required.
Notice Requirements
Employees must provide their employer with a medical certificate and give as much notice as possible of when they need to begin their leave. One week’s notice is required to end a leave early.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/long-term-illness-injury-leave
Maternity Leave Alberta and Parental Leave Alberta
These leaves provide new and expectant mothers and fathers with extended time off around the birth or adoption of a child.
Eligibility and Entitlement
The eligibility criteria are:
- Employees must have worked for the same employer for at least 90 days.
- Maternity leave is available to birth mothers.
- Parental leave is available to new parents, including adoptive parents.
Eligible employees can take up to 16 weeks of maternity leave and 62 weeks of parental leave without pay or benefits unless stated otherwise under an employment contract.
Length of Leave
- 16 weeks of maternity leave for birth mothers.
- 62 weeks of parental leave for new parents, including adoptive parents, which can be shared.
Maternity leave generally begins up to 13 weeks prior to the estimated due date and must last at least 6 weeks after the birth unless otherwise approved. Parental leave can begin after the birth or adoption and must be completed within 78 weeks.
Notice Requirements
Employees must give their employer at least 6 weeks written notice prior to beginning maternity or parental leave, unless an urgent situation prevents doing so. Four weeks notice is required before ending a leave early.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/maternity-parental-leave
Personal and Family Responsibility Leave Alberta
This leave provides employees with the flexibility to attend to health matters or family responsibilities.
Eligibility and Entitlement
To be eligible for this leave:
- Employees must have completed 90 days of employment with the same employer.
- Up to 5 days of unpaid leave per calendar year are available.
Length of Leave
Eligible employees can take up to 5 days of personal and family responsibility leave each calendar year. Unused days cannot be carried forward.
Notice Requirements
Employees should notify their employer as soon as reasonably possible when needing to take personal and family responsibility leave. Supporting documentation is not required by law.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/personal-family-responsibility-leave
Reservist Leave Alberta
This provides time off for military reserve force training or operational duties.
Eligibility and Entitlement
The eligibility criteria are:
- Employees must have worked for the same employer for at least 12 consecutive weeks.
- They must be a military reservist being deployed on operations or training.
Eligible reservists can take unpaid time off as required for training or operations, with job protection.
Length of Leave
Reservist employees can take leave for the entire duration of their military deployment, training, or related activities. There is no maximum period.
Notice Requirements
Employees should provide at least 4 weeks written notice of upcoming reservist leave, when possible. If the deployment is urgent, notice should be provided as soon as reasonably possible.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/reservist-leave
Other Important Employment Regulations in Alberta
In addition to leave entitlements, Alberta Employment Standards Code governs other aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including:
Termination Notice and Severance Pay
Alberta employers must provide appropriate written working notice or termination pay if ending employment without cause, based on length of service. Severance pay is also required in certain situations.
Vacation Time and Vacation Pay Alberta
Employees are entitled to a minimum of 2 weeks of paid annual vacation after one year of employment, increasing to 3 weeks after 5 years. Vacation pay amounts to at least 4-6% of wages.
Hours of Work and Overtime
Standard hours are 8 hours per day and 44 hours per week. Daily overtime of 1.5 times the regular wage is payable after 8 hours. Weekly overtime of 1.5 times the wage is payable after 44 hours.
Minimum Wage
Alberta’s general minimum wage is $15 per hour as of October 1, 2018. Different rates apply to students under 18 and alcohol servers.
Read more: Minimum Wage in Alberta
Want to learn more about leaves of absence across Canada? See our guides covering key details for employees needing time off work in other provinces:
Summary
Alberta offers some of the most progressive leave entitlements and employment standards in Canada. Both employees benefit and employers benefit when workplaces uphold high standards and enable a supportive environment.
By understanding the eligibility requirements, notification rules, and other regulations of leave of absence in Alberta, employers and employees can foster open communication. Employees can take time off when needed without risking their livelihood, while employers maintain productivity and retention.
Staying up-to-date on evolving employment laws and standards is advisable for employers. Those needing assistance can consult resources like the Alberta Employment Standards Contact Centre or seek guidance from employment law experts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leave of Absence Alberta
What are the major areas of employment covered under the Alberta Employment Standards Code?
The Code covers hours of work, overtime, minimum wage, vacation time, termination notice, job-protected leaves, and other areas like youth employment rules. Its purpose is to provide fair minimum standards for employment in Alberta.
What are job-protected leaves of absence in Alberta?
They are authorized leaves where eligible employees can take unpaid time off work without risk of losing their job. Alberta has 10 protected leave types including maternity, parental, compassionate care, domestic violence, and personal sickness leave, etc.
How many sick days are employees entitled to in Alberta?
There is no legislated minimum paid sick leave in Alberta. Employers can set their own sick leave policies. Employees may qualify for job-protected illness and injury leave once employed for 90 days.
What is the timeframe for employers to pay terminated employees in Alberta?
Terminated employees must receive their final pay within 10 consecutive days after the end of the pay period in which their employment ended.
How does vacation time accrue for employees in Alberta?
Under minimum standards, employees earn a minimum of 2 weeks of vacation time after each 12 months of continuous employment. After 5 years, employees earn 3 weeks per year. Vacation pay accrues at 4-6% of gross wages. Some employers may offer greater accrual rates.