Maternity Leave in Canada?

[aristocatz]

Someone at work was telling me that if you live and are employed in Canada, the government allows for one year of paid maternity leave.

Anyone live in Canada or know if this is true?? Wow-I am beyond jealous!!!

 

[maddiel]

It's part of the Employment Insurance program, You have to have worked at least 600 hours in the year before the leave starts to qualify.

You don't get full pay unless your employer offers a top-up as a benefit. There is a two week waiting period where you don't receive any benefits (unless your employer tops that up) and then you are paid for the remaining weeks. "For most people, the basic rate for calculating EI benefits is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount. As of January 1, 2014, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $48,600. This means that you can receive a maximum amount of $514 per week."

The first 15 weeks of the leave is maternity leave which can only be taken by the mother. The remaining 35 weeks is parental leave which could be taken by either parent or a combination or by an adoptive parent

For more info: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/benefits/maternityparental.shtml

M.

 

[lizabu]

It's true but like maddiel said you had to have worked a certain number of hours and it's not 100% of your pay. A lot of people are splitting it up. Mom takes 8 months and dad takes 4 months etc. I was glad to have it. Daycare for babies often has long wait lists.

 

[jeepwreck]

its true my wife if off right now and she took the whole year off she goes back on January. however her work tops up her up through her benefits at work

 

[cjbcam]

In most circumstances. I was denied because I worked for my husbands father. Apparently if you work for family you can't yet you can bet your life I still had to pay into it. Makes me very angry.

 

[cgncga]

In most circumstances. I was denied because I worked for my husbands father. Apparently if you work for family you can't yet you can bet your life I still had to pay into it. Makes me very angry.

If you work for a family member, you should not have to pay EI. You can get a ruling from the CRA making you exempt and, at the same time, you can request that the previous 3 year's premiums (employee and employer portion) be refunded to you and the company. I am an accountant (CPA CGA) with a small accounting firm and we have gotten this ruling for the majority of our small business clients.

Catherine, CPA CGA

 

[CdnCarrie]

Yes the USA is the only first world country without a decent mat leave program. Don't know how you ladies do it! No way I could have gone back in 6 weeks.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Yes the USA is the only first world country without a decent mat leave program. Don't know how you ladies do it! No way I could have gone back in 6 weeks.

It's not difficult.

 

[ronandannette]

In addition, employers are obligated to "hold" a position (either the job that was vacated or another equivalent one) for the length of the leave. It can be quite a hardship and at my workplace of the last 4 ladies to take maternity leaves, all 4 of them did NOT return to work and did not disclose their decision until their leave was up.

 

[ronandannette]

It's not difficult.

It's not? Due to extenuating circumstances I returned to work when our DS was a month old. It was the singular most difficult thing I've ever done physically and emotionally.

 

[OurBigTrip]

It's not? Due to extenuating circumstances I returned to work when our DS was a month old. It was the singular most difficult thing I've ever done physically and emotionally.

Everyone handles things differently. For me, it was no problem to go back after six weeks. Physically, I could have returned to work a few days after giving birth, and emotionally, while it was tough the first day, I always knew I would be going back, so it wasn't that big a deal.

 

[CdnCarrie]

It's not difficult.

There is no way I would have fit into my clothes at 6 weeks postpartum. Let alone have a daycare spot, energy or a breastfeeding/pumping schedule worked out. Kudos for those who can do it.

So very happy for our one year mat year. Loved every minute of it.

 

[DebbieB]

Where I work, there is 6 weeks disability pay for a regular delivery, 8 weeks for a C-section. Most take at least another month unpaid under FMLA. Most are out about 3 months.

 

[mommasita]

It's not difficult.

It isn't providing there isn't a complication perhaps..
My son was born with a club foot, and I was at the Children's hospital getting a new cast each Monday and Friday for 10 months, and an Orthopedic Visit each week, along with a ton of testing as he was also diagnosed with spina bifida to go along with it.. We were pretty luck compared to some.. This would have been possible of course, but not very easy... taking time off for the casts, braces, fittings, spinal taps..
Add that to a hard labor, postpartum..

I also think not only of are you ABLE, but the emphasis it puts on family, and the baby.. Also, we can share this leave with the other parent, bringing it all about family.

 

[clambert1273]

It's not difficult.

I think I am with you lol I was begging to go back to work by 6 weeks. I am just NOT cut out for stay at home life

I was in the Army (active duty) for 2 of my kids and it was then 6 weeks period.. C-section or not. My first was a C-section and I went back at 6 weeks which at that point they expect you to do all the physical fitness so they had me doing situps .. NOW that was fun...

 

[usd2bmd]

The one thing I regret is the fact that I had to go back to work when my daughter was weeks old. Luckily my parents were physically able to take care of her.

There was an article in our local paper recently stating that our county pays some of the highest daycare costs in the country.

I feel terrible for people that are trying to raise a family and balance working and the cost of daycare.

 

[ronandannette]

It isn't providing there isn't a complication perhaps..
My son was born with a club foot, and I was at the Children's hospital getting a new cast each Monday and Friday for 10 months, and an Orthopedic Visit each week, along with a ton of testing as he was also diagnosed with spina bifida to go along with it.. We were pretty luck compared to some.. This would have been possible of course, but not very easy... taking time off for the casts, braces, fittings, spinal taps..
Add that to a hard labor, postpartum..

I also think not only of are you ABLE, but the emphasis it puts on family, and the baby.. Also, we can share this leave with the other parent, bringing it all about family.

Oh, interesting coincidence. Ours was born with 2, and we also spent hours every single week at our local Children's Hospital. His condition was surgically resolved just before he was a year old and I'll never forget the thrill of him taking his first steps at 14 months. (Blessedly, this happened one evening when I was already home from work. )

 

[aristocatz]

Makes me want to move to Canada!

I took 3 months maternity leave with my first DD. 6 weeks were covered/paid for from accumulated sick time, but the rest was unpaid & it was a challenge financially. I went under FMLA for part of it, which guaranteed me my job, but no pay.

This time around, I have minimal sick time available. I'm only 2 years between pregnancies & I used a good bit of sick time when my DD had RSV, stomach bugs, gave the sicknesses to me, etc.. We've been saving up as much $$ as we could & I'm taking 8 weeks this time around. Money is going to be very tight, but I just cannot imagine putting our baby in daycare earlier than 2 months old. The early bonding time is very very important to me.

I did offer to do some work from home during my 8 weeks, but my boss is not allowed to pay me for it until I return to work.

So, do most modern countries offer a government program for paid or partially paid maternity leave?? It seems so ridiculous that, with all we offer in welfare, we don't offer at least a little assistance for maternity leave-even just a month would be helpful!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes the USA is the only first world country without a decent mat leave program. Don't know how you ladies do it! No way I could have gone back in 6 weeks.

It's not difficult.

I would say at 6-8 weeks post partum it can certainly be difficult.

But we do have FMLA in this country once certain qualifications are met. But the mom is eligible for 90 days.

By then, the one friend I knew who went back was so bored and couldn't wait. (Her words.)

So I think FMLA is adequate. Yes it is unpaid. But we do not pay into a program for elective leave up to a year and I can only imagine the uproar if businesses tried that.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I would say at 6-8 weeks post partum it can certainly be difficult.

From a physical point of view, with an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, six weeks should be no problem at all.

So I think FMLA is adequate. Yes it is unpaid. But we do not pay into a program for elective leave up to a year and I can only imagine the uproar if businesses tried that.

I think if businesses want to offer it, that's great and it would certainly be a great benefit, but I can't see it ever being a government-paid benefit.