Maternity Leave

If an employee has worked for the same employer for at least 7 consecutive months and becomes pregnant, they are eligible for unpaid maternity leave.

The length of the maternity leave can be:

• up to 17 weeks before the estimated date of delivery and

• up to 17 weeks after the date of delivery.

The employee must provide their employer with a medical certificate giving the estimated date of delivery and at least four weeks written notice of the date they will start their maternity leave.

If the employee does not give notice before leaving their job, they can still receive maternity leave if they provide notice and a medical certificate within two weeks of stopping work.

The maternity leave ends 17 weeks after the date of delivery, or earlier if the employee gives their employer written notice at least two weeks or one pay period before the day they wish to end their leave.

Parental Leave

If an employee who has worked for their employer for at least 7 months becomes a parent through childbirth or adoption, they are entitled to up to 63 weeks of unpaid parental leave.

If the employee gives less notice, they will have their leave reduced by the number of days they were late.

The leave must begin within 18 months of the child being born, adopted, or coming into the employee's care.

If the employee also takes maternity leave, the two leaves must be taken together unless the employer agrees otherwise.

The parental leave will end either:

• 63 weeks after it began,

• 37 weeks after it began if the child was born or adopted before a certain date, or

• earlier if the employee gives two weeks' notice.

Manitoba Employment Standards Code s.58-59.1