Maternity leave is a period of unpaid leave that is available to eligible employees who are pregnant or have recently given birth. In Alberta, maternity leave is governed by the Employment Standards Code, which sets out the minimum standards for employment in the province.
To be eligible for maternity leave, an employee must have worked for their employer for at least 90 days and must provide their employer with a doctor’s note confirming their pregnancy or the birth of their child. Employees can take up to 17 weeks of maternity leave, which can be taken before or after the birth of their child.