July 14, 2025
New long-term illness leave
As of June 19, 2025, an employee who has been employed by an employer for at least 13 consecutive weeks is now entitled to an unpaid, job-protected leave of absence for up to 27 weeks in a 52-week period if they are unable to perform their duties due to a serious medical condition.
For the leave of absence, a qualified health practitioner must issue a certificate stating the employee has a serious medical condition and also set out the period where the employee will not be working because of the serious medical condition.
The changes and requirements fall under the Employment Standards Act and employers are required to retain or arrange for some other person to retain specified records that relate to an employee taking long-term illness leave for three years after the day on which the leave expired.
For the leave of absence, a qualified health practitioner must issue a certificate stating the employee has a serious medical condition and also set out the period where the employee will not be working because of the serious medical condition.
The changes and requirements fall under the Employment Standards Act and employers are required to retain or arrange for some other person to retain specified records that relate to an employee taking long-term illness leave for three years after the day on which the leave expired.