Maternity & parental leave
This page outlines entitlements, benefits and payment examples for maternity and parental leaves for all eligible employee groups.
This information is intended as a guide to understanding general provisions. For detailed information, please refer to:
Statutory leave entitlements
Leave entitlements are outlined in the and will vary based on your leave situation. Review the maternity and parental leave categories below for more information.
Birth mothers can take up to 17 consecutive weeks of unpaid maternity leave. This type of leave is only for the birthing parent; it cannot be shared between parents.
Maternity leave can begin up to 12 weeks before the birth, but not later than the week of the birth, and continues for at least 6 weeks following the birth. A certificate from a doctor or nurse practitioner is required if an employee wishes to return to work earlier than 6 weeks following birth.
Further maternity leave of up to 6 consecutive weeks without pay shall be granted if you are unable to return to work for reasons related to the birth, as certified by a medical practitioner. When combined with parental leave, the time off work can add up to 18 months.
Following the conclusion of maternity leave, birth mothers may transition to parental leave.
Termination of pregnancy: Employees can take six consecutive weeks of leave starting on the date a pregnancy ends. The employer may request a note from a doctor or nurse practitioner that says when the pregnancy ended. If the employee is unable to return to work for reasons related to the pregnancy ending, the leave can be extended for six weeks, for a total of 12 weeks.
Employees can take up to 62 weeks of unpaid parental leave. Both parents can take one full period of parental leave. Parental leave can begin at any time within 78 weeks of a baby being born or a child being placed. It can be extended by up to 5 weeks if the child needs more care due to a physical, psychological or emotional condition.
- standard parental leave: the entitlement is for up to 35 consecutive weeks of unpaid parental leave, starting immediately after the end of the maternity leave
- parental leave begins after the child’s birth and must be completed within the 52 week period following the birth
- extended parental leave: the entitlement is for up to 62 consecutive weeks of unpaid parental leave, starting immediately after the end of the maternity leave
- parental leave begins after the child’s birth and must be completed within the 78 week period following the birth
Once selected, you cannot switch between standard and extended parental leave.
The birth parent can take up to 61 weeks of unpaid parental leave immediately following their maternity leave: 17 weeks of unpaid maternity leave PLUS up to 61 weeks of unpaid parental leave totals 78 weeks (approximately 18 months).
If sharing parental leave, each parent must choose the same option and submit their own application. Parents can receive their weeks of benefits at the same time, or one after another.
See EI Sharing Benefit info if you are sharing Parental leave.
Adopting parents can take up to 62 consecutive weeks of unpaid parental (adoption) leave.
Standard parental leave: the entitlement is for up to 35 consecutive weeks of unpaid parental leave. Parental leave begins after the child is placed with you, and must be completed within the 52 week period following the placement.
Extended parental leave: the entitlement is for up to 62 consecutive weeks of unpaid parental leave. Parental leave begins after the child is placed with you, and must be completed within the 78 week period following the placement.
See EI Sharing Benefit info if you are sharing parental leave.
Employment Insurance (EI) benefits
Employment Insurance (EI) maternity and parental benefits provide financial assistance to:
- people who are away from work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth
- parents who are away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child
If you have worked sufficient hours in the last year, or since your last claim, you may be eligible to receive EI maternity leave benefits.
Application for EI benefits is made online and must be completed within 1 week of the leave starting. Do not apply until your leave begins.
EI processing time can take a few weeks. Once approved EI will send out a Notice of Entitlement to you advising the amount of benefit payable. A copy of this notice must be submitted to Payroll before they are permitted under the EI regulations to initiate any supplementary top up benefit payments.
Please check the for current information and benefit amounts.
The first 1 week of maternity leave is considered an unpaid waiting period. EI maternity benefits are then payable to the birth mother for a maximum of 15 weeks.
EI pays a maximum of 69 weeks of parental leave benefits if shared by both parents, providing both parents are eligible. If the leave is not shared, the maximum number of weeks is 61. Only 1 EI waiting period needs to be served per person or family – so will be waived if already served for maternity benefits.
If you qualify to receive UVic supplemental top up benefits during your parental leave, you must apply for the equivalent number of weeks of EI parental leave benefits.
The first 1 week of parental (adoption) leave is considered an unpaid waiting period. If this has already been served by the first parent, the second parent claiming parental benefits can have this waived.
EI pays a maximum of 69 weeks of parental leave benefits if shared by both parents, providing both parents are eligible. If the leave is not shared, the maximum number of weeks is 61.
If you qualify to receive UVic supplemental top up benefits during your parental (adoption) leave, you must apply for the equivalent number of weeks of EI parental leave benefits.
EI sharing benefit
EI sharing benefit extends the maximum duration of EI parental leave benefits for two-parent families when both parents take a minimum of 5 weeks of leave.
At the Standard benefit rate of 55 per cent of weekly insurable earnings for 12 months, the parents will receive an additional 5 weeks of leave if the parental leave is shared.
In cases where parents have elected to take Extended Parental Leave benefits at the rate of 33 per cent of weekly insurable earnings, the sharing benefit will extend parental leave by 8 weeks.
UVic supplementary top-up benefits
Regular, continuing employees are eligible for top-up benefits with UVic.
The supplementary top up benefit is 95 per cent of normal basic earnings from UVic, less the amount of EI parental benefit you will receive. The remaining weeks of parental leave are without pay from the university. For calculating top up, the EI parental benefit will be based on 55 per cent of your average weekly insurable earnings up to the EI maximum amount.
Faculty & Librarians:
If you are the birth mother and an Eligible Member, not on leave, you are entitled to receive up to 17 weeks of supplementary maternity top up benefits, provided you have applied for EI maternity benefits.
All other employee groups:
If you are a Regular employee, not on layoff or leave (unless for medical reasons associated with the pregnancy), you are entitled to receive up to 18 weeks of supplementary top up benefits, provided you have applied for and are eligible to receive at least 18 weeks of EI maternity and parental benefits.
If you are the birth mother or the Co-parent, and an Eligible Member, not on leave, you are entitled to receive up to 18 weeks of supplementary parental top up benefits, provided you have applied for an equivalent number of weeks of EI parental benefits.
Where both parents are regular employees eligible for the supplementary top up benefit, then UVic will pay a maximum of 18 weeks of supplementary top up benefit per parent.
If you are an adoptive parent, and an Eligible Member, not on leave, you are entitled to receive up to 18 weeks of supplementary top up benefits, provided you have applied for an equivalent number of weeks of EI parental benefits.
Where both parents are regular employees eligible for the supplementary top up benefit, then UVic will pay a maximum of 18 weeks of supplementary top up benefit per parent.
Payment examples
Regardless of length of parental leave selected, supplementary top-up will be paid at the rate of 55 per cent of average weekly EI insurance earnings. Due to changes made by the Federal Government, UVic will issue the equivalent EI amount for your last week of leave. This only applies if you served the Service Canada 1 week waiting period.
The below is intended as an example only.
Faculty & Librarian payment examples:
| Week | UVic pays | EI pays |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 95% | 0 |
| Weeks 2-17 | 40% | 55% |
| Weeks 18-35 | 40% | 55% |
| Weeks 36-51 | 0 | 55% |
| Week 52 | 55% | 0 |
| Parental sharing benefit 5 weeks for 2nd parent | 0 | 55% |
| Week | UVic pays | EI pays |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 95% | 0 |
| Weeks 2-17 | 40% | 55% |
| Weeks 18-35 | 40% | 35% |
| Weeks 36-77 | 0 | 33% |
| Week 78 | 55% | 0 |
| Parental sharing benefit 8 weeks for 2nd parent | 0 | 33% |
Payment examples - all other employee groups:
| Week | UVic pays | EI pays |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 95% | 0 |
| Weeks 2-18 | 40% | 55% |
| Weeks 19-51 | 0 | 55% |
| Week 52 | 55% | 0 |
| Parental sharing benefit 5 weeks for 2nd parent | 0 | 55% |
| Week | UVic pays | EI pays |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 95% | 0 |
| Weeks 2-17 | 40% | 55% |
| Week 18 | 40% | 33% |
| Weeks 19-77 | 0 | 33% |
| Week 78 | 55% | 0 |
| Parental sharing benefit 8 weeks for 2nd parent | 0 | 33% |
UVic personnel benefits
As a Regular employee, you are required to contribute your share of the cost of the Personnel Benefits Programs in which you are enrolled while receiving supplementary top-up benefits. The university will continue to contribute its share of the cost of the programs.
If you are not eligible for supplementary top-up benefits, or once supplementary top-up benefits have been exhausted, the university will continue to contribute its share of the cost of any of the Personnel Benefits in which you are enrolled, unless you elect in writing not to continue to pay the employee’s share. Requests to discontinue coverage during the leave must be submitted before the leave commences.
Please contact the Benefits Office to add the baby to the extended and dental plans within 30 days of the birth.
Maternity leave does not constitute a break in service for the purposes of calculating seniority and eligibility for increments and sick leave and vacation entitlements. Sick leave and vacation entitlements will continue to accrue during the period of approved maternity leave.