Life has its share of ups and downs. The Act is there for you during both happy and dramatic times.

Whether it is to take care of a member of your family or to share in their moments of joy, the Act respecting labour standards allows you to be absent from work.

When death or illness strikes or when joyful events occur in your life, the Act provides for leaves.

The following tables present a summary of the situations for which you are entitled to leaves, the length of these leaves and the conditions that must be met to benefit from them.

You need to install the Flash plugin to view the video content.

Flash is not activated on your computer
To install it, click hereCe lien ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre


Leaves in cases of pregnancy, birth or adoption

Leaves for mothers

Event

Type of leave

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

During the pregnancy

Leave for examinations related to her pregnancy
  • Occasional leave, if necessary, according to the number of examinations required
  • Leave without pay
  • The employee must notify her employer as soon as possible

In case of a risk of termination of pregnancy

Special maternity leave
  • For the period indicated on the medical certificate
  • Leave without pay
  • The employee must submit a medical certificate

Following a termination of pregnancy before the 20th week

Special maternity leave
  • 3 weeks
  • Leave without pay
  • The employee must notify her employer in writing as soon as possible and submit a medical certificate

In cases of normal pregnancy or termination of pregnancy after the 20th week

Maternity leave
  • 18 weeks
  • Leave without pay
  • The employee must notify her employer in writing as soon as possible and submit a medical certificate
 

Leaves for fathers

Event

Type of leave

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

In cases of a:

  • birth
  • adoption
  • termination of pregnancy after the 20th week

No data.
  • 5 days
  • The first 2 days are with pay if the employee has been employed for 60 days or more
  • The employee must notify his employer as soon as possible

At the birth of his child

Paternity leave
  • 5 weeks
  • Leave without pay
  • The employee must notify his employer in writing 3 weeks before the start of the leave and inform him of the date when he will return at work
 

Leaves for parents

Event

Type of leave

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

For the birth or adoption of a child

Parental leave  

52 weeks
Leave without pay
  • The employee must notify his employer 3 weeks ahead of time and inform him of the date on which he will return to work
 

Québec Parental Insurance Plan

Under the Québec Parental Insurance PlanThis link open in a new window, benefits are paid to support the income of a female employee who is absent from work after the birth or adoption of a child.


Leaves for family or parental obligations

Marriage or civil union

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

The employee
  • 1 day
  • Leave with pay

 
  • The day of his marriage or civil union must coincide with a working day
  • The employee must notify his employer at least one week ahead of time
  • one of his children
  • the child of his spouse
  • his father, mother, brother or sister

No data.
  • The day of his marriage or civil union must coincide with a working day
  • The employee must notify his employer at least one week ahead of time
 

Death or funeral

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations
  • his spouse
  • his child
  • the child of his spouse
  • his father, mother, brother or sister
  • 5 days
  • First day with pay
  • The employee must notify his employer at least one week ahead of time
  • The leave must be taken between the death and the funeral
  • his son-in-law
  • his daughter-in-law
  • one of his grandparents
  • one of his grandchildren
  • the father, mother, brother or sister of his spouse
  • 1 day
  • Leave without pay
  • The employee must notify his employer as soon as possible
  • The leave must be taken between the death and the funeral
 

Obligations

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

Related to the custody, health or education

  • his child
  • the child of his spouse

Due to the state of health

  • his spouse
  • a close relative


  • 10 days per year without pay
  • This leave may be divided into days
  • A day may be divided if the employer consents thereto


  • The employee must notify his employer as soon as possible
  • The employee must take all reasonable means to  assume his obligations and limit the length of the leave
 

If the employee’s presence is required due to a serious illness

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

On the part of

  • his child
  • his spouse
  • the child of his spouse
  • his father or mother
  • his brother or sister
  • one of his grandparents
  • Not more than 12 weeks over a 12-month period
  • The employee’s absence may be extended up to 104 weeks if his minor child has a serious illness
  • The employee must have been employed for 3 months
  • A medical certificate must attest to the child’s serious illness
 

Leaves following sickness, an organ or tissue donation for transplant, an accident, a crime or a suicide

Sickness, organ or tissue donation for transplant or accident

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

The employee
  • 26 weeks over a 12-month period
  • The employee must have been employed for 3 months
 

Serious bodily injury resulting from a crime

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

The employee
  • Not more than 104 weeks without pay
  • The employee must have been employed for 3 months
  • The employee must notify his employer as soon as possible
  • The employee must not have taken part in the crime
 

Presence required following a crime

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

The minor child of the employee   

  • Not more than 104 weeks without pay
  • The employee must have been employed for 3 months
  • The employee must notify his employer as soon as possible
 

Disappearance

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations
  • the minor child of the employee
  • Not more than 52 weeks without pay
  • If the child is found alive before the expiry of this period, the absence ends eleven days later
  • The employee must have been employed for 3 months
  • The employee must notify his employer as soon as possible
 

Suicide committed

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations
  • by his child
  • by his spouse
  • Not more than 52 weeks without pay
  • The employee must have been employed for 3 months
  • The employee must notify his employer as soon as possible
 

Death resulting from a crime

Person concerned

Length of leave

Conditions/obligations

Involving

  • his child
  • his spouse
  • Not more than 104 weeks without pay
  • The employee must have been employed for 3 months
  • The employee must notify his employer as soon as possible
 

Gouvernement du Québec

© Gouvernement du Québec