Employees are allowed to take an unpaid leave of absence for specific reasons. Before taking a leave, they need to let their employer know when and why they need to take the leave. Employers cannot end employment or change a condition of employment because of a leave set out below - unless they get written consent from the employee.

Illness or injury leave (sometimes called sick leave): After 90 days of employment, employees can take up to 5 paid days and 3 unpaid days of job-protected leave per calendar year.

Maternity leave: A pregnant employee can take up to 17 consecutive weeks. This leave may be extended by up to 6 weeks.

Parental leave: A mother who has taken maternity leave can take to up to 61 weeks. Other parents can take up to 62 weeks. The leave can begin at any time within 78 weeks of a baby being born or a child being placed. It may be extended by up to 5 weeks.

Family responsibility leave: An employee can take up to 5 days in each employment year to attend to the care, health or education of a child under the age of 19 in their care. They can also use this type of leave to attend to the care or health of any other member of their immediate family.

Compassionate care leave: An employee can take up to 27 weeks in a 52-week period to provide care for a family member who is terminally ill and is at risk of death within 26 weeks. A medical certificate is required.

Critical illness or injury leave: An employee can take 36 weeks to care for a child and up to 16 weeks to care for a family member over the age of 19. A medical certificate is required.

COVID-19 - Paid vaccination leave: Employees can take up to 3 hours of paid leave to be vaccinated against COVID-19. If necessary, they can take additional paid leave for additional doses.

COVID-19 - Unpaid leave: An employee can take unpaid, job-protected leave for certain reasons related to COVID-19, such as self-isolating or assisting a dependant.

Reservists' leave: An employee who is a reservist for the Canadian Forces is entitled to 20 days of unpaid leave in a calendar year to participate in specific duties.

Leave respecting disappearance or death of child: An employee can take up to 52 weeks if their child disappears and up to 104 weeks for the death of their child.

Leave respecting domestic or sexual violence: An employee can take up to 5 days of paid leave and 5 more days of unpaid leave per calendar year if they are impacted by domestic or sexual violence, plus additional time if necessary.

Bereavement leave: An employee can take up to 3 days if an immediate family member dies. Jury duty: An employee can take leave to attend court as a juror.