WCB – Alberta (Millard Health) Collective Agreement 2021-2024

Article 37: Maternity, Parental and Adoptive Parent Leave

Maternity Leave

1. An Employee who has completed ninety (90) days of employment shall, upon their written request, be granted maternity leave to become effective thirteen (13) weeks immediately preceding the estimated date of delivery, or such shorter period as they may request. Such leave shall be without pay and benefits and shall not exceed eighteen (18) months (sixteen (16) weeks of unpaid maternity leave and sixty-two (62) weeks of unpaid parental leave) unless an extension is granted by the Employer. Requests for extension shall not be unreasonably denied. Such extension, when granted, shall not exceed an additional six (6) months.
2. Maternity leave shall be without pay and benefits except for the portion of leave during which the Employee has a valid health-related reason for being absent from work and is also in receipt of any of: Sick Leave, Employment Insurance Supplementary Unemployment Insurance Benefit (SUB) or Long Term Disability (LTD). During this period, benefit plan premium payments shall be administered in the same fashion as an Employee absent due to illness.
   
   Parental/Adoptive Leave
3. A parent-to-be who has completed ninety (90) days of employment shall, upon written request, be granted an unpaid leave to commence two (2) weeks prior to the delivery or such shorter period as may be mutually agreed between the Employee and Employer. Such leave shall be without pay and benefits and shall not exceed sixty-two (62) weeks.
4. An Employee who has completed her ninety (90) days of employment shall be granted a leave of absence for a period of up to sixty-two (62) weeks in duration for the purpose of adopting a child provided that:
   1. they make written request for such leave at the time the application for adoption is approved; and
   2. they provide the Employer, where possible, with at least one (1) full working day notice that such leave is to commence. Requests for extension shall not be unreasonably denied. Such extension when granted, shall not exceed an additional six (6) months.
5. Parental/Adoptive leave must be completed within seventy-eight (78) weeks of the date the baby is born or placed with the parents.  
   
   Giving Notice
6. Starting Leave: An Employee must give written notice of at least six (6) weeks before starting maternity or parental leave.
7. Returning to Work: An Employee absent on maternity, parental or adoption leave shall provide the Employer with four (4) weeks written notice of readiness to return to work or to confirm they will not be returning to work after their leave ends. Following such notice, the Employer will reinstate them in the same position held immediately prior to taking such leave or provide them with alternate work of a comparable nature at not less than the same step in the salary scale and with other benefits accrued to them up to the date they commenced the leave.