Personal and Family Responsibility Leave

Under Alberta’s Employment Standards Code, employees have the right to certain job-protected leaves of absence, including Personal and Family Responsibility Leave. This entitlement allows them to take time off work for personal reasons without concern for job loss upon return. As an employer, you must understand your obligations under personal and family responsibility leave.

Infectious Disease Leave

During this challenging time, many employers have had to deal with unprecedented sick leave requests due to Covid-19. Speak to our experts about making sure your procedures are up to date.

Employer Obligations for Personal and Family Responsibility Leave

Did you know Alberta’s labour laws recently changed? The new minimum standards of employment came into effect on January 1, 2018. As set out by the Fair and Family-Friendly Workplaces Act, employees have additional rights to job-protected leaves of absence.

The basic rules for personal and family responsibility leave include:

  • Employers must provide up to five (5) unpaid days off per calendar year for personal health matters or responsibilities related to an employee’s family member
  • Employees are eligible if they have been employed for at least 90 days with the same employer
  • Employers cannot terminate or lay off their employee while on leave
  • Any unused days cannot be carried over into the next calendar year.

Who is considered a family member?

The following individuals related to the employee are considered family members:

  • Spouse, adult interdependent partner, or common-law partner
  • Children, foster children, wards, or children of the employee’s spouse or partner
  • Parents, foster parents, or guardians
  • Siblings
  • Grandparents
  • Grandchildren
  • A person living with the employee as a member of their family

Personal and family responsibility leave questions?

If you have questions about employee leaves of absence, ask Employer Line. In addition to personal and family responsibility leave, employees can take time off for compassionate care leave, critical illness leave, bereavement leave, etc. Call our HR experts today for free advice through our employer helpline: 1 (888) 219-8767.