- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- iparenting canada articles
- iparenting canada q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Maternity and Parental Leave
Making the Most of Time with Baby By Gwen Morrison
Mccaskill says she was very grateful to be able to take the time prior to delivering her baby. She feels it enables moms to be able to take a little time and not have to work right up until the delivery date.
One of the most advantageous changes to the benefit program is that parents who are on leave may work limited hours while they take their parental leave. The parent who is collecting employment insurance benefits may earn a sum of $50 or up to 25 percent of their weekly benefits, whichever is greater, and it will not affect the amount of benefits payable. This is only available for parents on parental leave, not for the maternity leave benefit recipients.
"I get 55 percent of my pay cheque for benefits from the government," says Paula Macdonald of London, Ont. "I also earn $64 a week by working at the pharmacy once during a work week for just four hours."
The rate for benefits equals 55 percent of an average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum of $413 dollars per week.
Employees who take a paternity leave must be reinstated into their former position at their place of employment. A company may also opt to give them another position as long as it is a comparable job at the same location with the same wages and benefits.
Empoyers must abide by the rules and regulations as set out for them under the Canada Labour Code. Provisions must be made to ensure that the parent on leave can return to their job with the same benefits as they had prior to their parental leave.