is maternity leave paid in Canada, how much if it is, and for how long?

Question

thanks

Answer 1

Ok. I'll make this pretty specific.

Mothers can claim 15 weeks. (Maternity leave)

Mothers or fathers can claim an additional 35 weeks. (Parental leave) It's a total of 50 weeks, actually, and not 52 weeks...

You receive government cheques for a percentage of your salary but there is a ceiling. (About 25G?) (If you make more than about 40G/year you are above the ceiling and might as well just have been making 40G/year.)

You can collect your payments over 12 months and you can start collecting before you give birth. But you can not collect after the baby turns 1 year old.

Employers sometimes will "top-up" your government money with a separate cheque to bring you to a total monthly "salary" equivalent to your previous regular working salary or some percentage thereof.

Hope this helps. It sounds like a morass but it really does work quite well and have been through this several times already
(wink!)...

Answer 2

It's because of money. American company's tend to be greedy and don't like to give employees time off. In most European countries they get even longer maternity leave. I guess America doesn't realize that in the end more people would stay with their jobs and be loyal employees if they were allowed more time off when they start a family, or when they are sick, ready for vacation, etc. At almost every job I've ever had it was like pulling teeth to get a day off, and at my last job the boss did not let anyone take vacation at all, even after having worked a year and earning it. Everyone there would pretty much be forced to "sell" their vacation at the end of the year, except of course the boss. And anytime someone got pregnant she would make them so miserable at work they'd want to quit, she did it to me but I managed to keep working there because I needed my health insurance. I called around to find out what kinds of protection I had, but the department of labor and other places said that she could basically treat me anyway she wanted, she just couldn't out and out fire me for getting pregnant. That's the problem, the laws need to change to be more family friendly. I'm not saying people should be given free rein to do what they want and take unlimited time off, but things should be more reasonable.

Answer 3

As above, but remember you have to have worked in Canada legally for at least 20 weeks (its based on the previous 20 weeks salary). Also remember that if you come here illegally you will not be covered in any hospital and will have to pay your own bill $10,000.00 up.

Answer 4

Yes as the person above said it is 12 months and can me dived anyway between parents and the pay is 55% of your regular wage which I do believe is the same as EI as it is paid through them.

Answer 5

yes it paid for a total of 12 months that can be split between mom and dad any way they wish or either one can use the entire time. i think it pays the same as unemployment insurance.