An employee who has been employed by the same employer for at least 90 days is entitled to unpaid compassionate care leave for up to 27 weeks to care for a family member with a serious medical condition.

• The employee must provide a medical certificate stating that the family member has a serious medical condition and requires care or support from one or more family members.

The employee must give the employer at least 2 weeks' written notice before starting compassionate care leave unless a shorter notice period is necessary.

Compassionate care leave may be taken in one or more periods, but no period may be less than one week's duration.

Compassionate care leave ends on the earliest of the following occurrences:

• the family member dies,

• the 27 weeks of leave ends, or

• the employee ceases to provide care or support to the family member.

An employer may choose not to grant compassionate care leave to more than one employee at a time if more than one employee is entitled to leave for the same family member.

An employer may not terminate the employment of an employee who has started compassionate care leave, except in the case of:

• suspending or discontinuing the business,

• undertaking, or

• other activity in which the employee is employed.

An employee who wishes to return to work after compassionate care leave must provide at least one week's written notice of the intended return date unless the employer and employee agree otherwise.

If an employee does not wish to resume employment after the leave ends, they must give the employer at least 2 weeks' written notice of their intention to terminate employment.

AB ESC s.53.9