Elmer MacFadyen, Minister responsible for Labour, today announced that An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, received approval creating a new provision for Compassionate Care Leave. The amendment will provide up to eight weeks' unpaid compassionate leave for employees to care for or support terminally ill members of their immediate family.
"This is an important benefit to provide support for Island workers who need to care for loved ones who are facing a terminal illness," Minister MacFadyen.
The legislation was introduced as a result of recent amendments to the federal Employment Insurance Act, which will provide up to six weeks' compassionate care benefits for employees who need time off work to provide care or support to a family member who is critically ill.
To be eligible, the employee must provide the employer, either before or after taking the leave, with a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner stating that the family member has a serious medical condition carrying with it a significant risk of death within 26 weeks.
Only immediate family members are eligible to take this leave which is defined as the employee's spouse, common law spouse, child, parent and brother or sister.
For additional information on compassionate leave legislation, call the Employment Standards Branch at 1-800-333-4362.