Employees are generally required to provide written notice of their intention to take pregnancy or parental leave, specifying the expected start date and, if possible, the anticipated return-to-work date.
- Federal (for federally regulated employers): Under the Canada Labour Code, employees must provide at least four weeks’ written notice before the start of their leave.
- Provincial/Territorial: Most provinces and territories require employees to provide four to eight weeks’ written notice. Some jurisdictions also specify a minimum notice period before the due date for pregnancy leave. In Ontario, an employee must provide two weeks’ notice to their employer before commencing a pregnancy or parental leave, unless the employee must stop working earlier (e.g. due to complications caused by the pregnancy).
It is best practice to encourage employees to provide as much notice as possible to facilitate planning and operational continuity. Always refer to the applicable legislation for precise notice requirements.
