Other leaves

If you are covered by the ESA, you might be able to take time off work using one of these unpaid leaves:

  • family caregiver leave
  • family medical leave
  • critical illness leave
  • child death leave
  • crime-related child disappearance leave
  • organ donor leave
  • reservist leave

This table has basic information about each of these leaves.

The ESA also gives pregnancy and parenting leaves to workers who qualify. For more information, see Taking time off work: For new and expecting parents.

Getting benefits while on leave

Your employer does not pay you when you take one of these leaves. But you may be able to get money from Employment Insurance (EI) and other benefits.

Family medical leave: You might be able to get EI compassionate care benefits for up to 26 weeks.

Critical illness leave: You might be able to get one of these EI benefits:

  • Family Caregiver benefit for adults can be up to 15 weeks
  • Family Caregiver benefit for children can be up to 35 weeks

Child death leave or crime-related child disappearance leave: You might be able to get the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime for up to 35 weeks.

Organ donor leave: You might be able to get EI sickness benefits for up to 15 weeks.

You might also be able to get benefits from the Program for Reimbursing Expenses of Living Organ Donors (PRELOD). This program is run by the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care.

To find out more, go to giftoflife.on.ca. Or call Trillium Gift of Life Network at 1-888-977-3563.

More information on benefits

For more information about EI and other benefits from the Government of Canada, contact a Service Canada Centre or a community legal clinic.

To find the Service Canada Centre for your area call 1-800-622-6232. Or check the Service Canada website at servicecanada.gc.ca.


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