A note to the reader:
- Eligibility for Employment Insurance benefits is assessed on a person by person basis by Service Canada
- Eligibility for University of Waterloo supplementary benefits is assessed on a person by person basis by Human Resources.
Job protected leave time
Job protected time away from work provided under the Ontario Ministry of Labour Employment Standards Act (ESA)
See How to Apply below this table
| Leave benefit under ESA | Eligibility | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| ESA Pregnancy Leave | Available to birth mothers whether they are full-time, part-time, permanent or on a fixed term contract Must have commenced employment with the University of Waterloo at least 13 weeks prior to the expected due date | Pregnant employees have the right to take pregnancy leave of up to 17 weeks of unpaid time off work. The earliest a pregnancy leave can began is 17 weeks prior to the employees due date |
| ESA Parental Leave | Available to new parents, whether they are full-time, part-time, permanent or on a fixed term contract Must have commenced employment with the University of Waterloo at least 13 weeks prior to the parental leave beginning | Maximum of 61 weeks unpaid parental leave for a birth mother who has taken pregnancy leave Maximum of 63 weeks unpaid parental leave for a parent who has not taken pregnancy leave, including same-sex partners |
How to Apply
Submit an absence request on Workday, select Pregnancy/Parental/Adoption or Parental time off plan>in the Type field and attach a certificate (note) from a medical practitioner (which may include a medical doctor, a midwife, or a nurse practitioner) stating the baby’s due date or a copy of the birth certificate. Please submit this request two weeks before the start date of your leave. Two months notice is preferred, to facilitate planning in the employee’s unit.
Union employees only: Complete a Pregnancy/Parental Leave Request form (PDF) and attach a certificate (note) from a medical practitioner (which may include a medical doctor, a midwife, or a nurse practitioner) stating the baby’s due date or a copy of the birth certificate and submit to your manager for approval. Your Manager is required to forward your approved leave request to Human Resources a minimum of two weeks before the start date of your leave. Two months notice is preferred.
*Birth mothers taking pregnancy and parental leave only need to submit one leave request.
Employement Insurance income continuance benefits
Employment Insurance (EI) benefits provided by Service Canada
See How to Apply below this table
| Employment insurance benefit | Eligibility | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| EI Maternity benefits | Available to biological mothers who are unable to work because they are pregnant or have recently given birth
Must have worked at least 600 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last EI claim Must serve a one-week waiting period where no benefits are payable |
Maximum of 15 weeks of maternity benefits payable at 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings to the maximum weekly EI benefit |
| EI Parental benefits | Available to parents who are caring for a newborn or newly adopted child
Must have worked at least 600 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last EI claim Must serve a one-week waiting period where no benefits are payable (the waiting period only has to be satisfied once for the family and so may not apply if it was already satisfied) |
Standard Parental Leave: Paid for a maximum of 35 weeks and must be claimed within a 52 week period (12 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption. The weekly benefit rate is 55% of the claimant’s average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount. Extended Parental Leave: Paid for a maximum of 61 weeks and must be claimed within a 78-week period (18 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption. The benefit rate is 33% of the claimant’s average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount.NOTE: Parents can share the 35 week EI parental benefit. Total EI benefits will not exceed 50 weeks (standard leave) or 76 (extended leave) for the family. |
How to Apply
Apply for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits online or in person at your nearest Service Canada location once you have stopped working. Service Canada requires a Record of Employment (ROE) to process your EI application (issued electronically directly to Service Canada by the Human Resources department within 5 business days from your last day worked). Employees can begin their EI application before their ROE is issued but Service Canada will not process their claim and begin their benefits until the ROE is received.
University of Waterloo supplemental maternity and parental benefits
University of Waterloo supplemental maternity and parental benefits
See How to Apply below this table
|
UW provided benefit |
Eligibility |
Benefit |
|
Supplemental Maternity benefits |
There are 3 eligibility categories: Category 1) Tenured, continuing or tenure-track faculty, and employees holding a position without an end date. Category 2) All employees not in category 1 above, with at least 5 years of completed employment. Category 3) All employees not in categories 1 or 2 above with between 2 and 5 years of expected employment. 12 month waiting period applies. Note: Every employee applying for supplemental maternity benefits must apply for EI benefits. Although EI eligibility is not required to receive the supplemental maternity benefit, an employee must provide Human Resources with their EI benefit statement or proof they have been deemed ineligible for EI benefits before supplemental benefits are paid. |
Up to 15 weeks of supplemental maternity benefits are avaiable to eligible birth mothers while on pregnancy leave. Benefit coverage during the 15 weeks will be provided as follows:
The 15 weeks can start as early as 12 weeks before the expected date of birth and can end as late as 17 weeks after the actual date of birth. Adoptive parents are eligible to share the non-medical related supplemental maternity benefits for up to seven additional weeks. *Supplemental maternity benefits are is the same for employees taking the standard or extended leave option. |
|
Supplemental Parental benefits |
There are 3 eligibility categories: Category 1) Tenured, continuing or tenure-track faculty, and employees holding a position without an end date. Category 2) All employees not in category 1 above, with at least 5 years of completed employment. Category 3) All employees not in categories 1 or 2 above with between 2 and 5 years of expected employment. 12 month waiting period applies. Note: Every employee applying for supplemental parental benefits must apply for EI benefits. Although EI eligibility is not required to receive the supplemental parental benefit, an employee must provide Human Resources with their EI benefit statement or proof they have been deemed ineligible for EI benefits before supplemental benefits are paid. |
Employees in Category 1 or 2: Up to 20 weeks of supplemental parental benefits* (95% of base pay less any EI amount the employee receives) while on a UW parental leave. Employees in Category 3: Up to 4 weeks of supplemental parental benefits (95% of base pay less any EI amount the employee receives) for every year of expected employment. Prorated for partial years and then rounded up to the nearest full week. *Supplemental parental benefits are the same for employees taking the standard or extended leave option. |
|
Parental Time Off |
Non-birth parents eligible for supplemental parental benefits |
Eligible employees have an option to exchange three weeks of the maximum supplemental parental benefit to which they are entitled for an earlier separate block of 10 paid days (at 100% pay) around the time of the birth. |
How to Apply
Submit an absence request on Workday, select Pregnancy/Parental/Adoption or Parental time off plan>in the Type field and attach a certificate (note) from a medical practitioner (which may include a medical doctor, a midwife, or a nurse practitioner) stating the baby’s due date or a copy of the birth certificate. Please submit this request two weeks before the start date of your leave. Two months notice is preferred, to facilitate planning in the employee’s unit.
Union employees only: Complete a Pregnancy/Parental Leave Request form (PDF) and attach a certificate (note) from a medical practitioner (which may include a medical doctor, a midwife, or a nurse practitioner) stating the baby’s due date or a copy of the birth certificate and submit to your manager for approval. Your Manager is required to forward your approved leave request to Human Resources a minimum of two weeks before the start date of your leave. Two months notice is preferred.
*Birth mothers taking pregnancy and parental leave only need to submit one leave request.
Support for nursing mothers
Waterloo female students (with an office), staff, and faculty have a resource at their disposal to assist breast feeding moms on campus. Danby compact refrigerators are available to be loaned out for the purposes of storing breast milk in individual offices. Each fridge measures approximately 18”x19”x20” and should fit easily on or below most tables.
To make arrangements to have a fridge delivered, please contact the Equity Office with your name; building; room number and when you will need the fridge. Users should be aware that all fridges must be cleaned thoroughly before being returned to Central Stores.
Questions can be directed to the Equity Office.