An employee who has worked for the same employer for 30 days or more can take:

• up to 37 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a critically ill child, or

• up to 17 weeks to care for a critically ill adult

  • if they have been employed for 90 days or more.

A physician must provide a certificate stating that the child or adult is critically ill and requires the employee's care or support.

The employee must provide notice to the employer of at least one pay period before taking leave and give a copy of the physician's certificate.

The leave can be taken in one or more periods, but each period must be at least one week long.

The employee can end the leave earlier than the maximum period if they provide one pay period's written notice to the employer.

The leave must end no later than 52 weeks after the start of the first period of leave, but if the child or adult remains critically ill, the employee can take another leave and the same requirements apply.

Manitoba Employment Standards Code s.59.8