MATERNAL & PARENTAL LEAVES AND BENEFITS

1. MATERNAL & PARENTAL LEAVES AND BENEFITS Presented by: Justin Jo, Lily Hoang, Shirley Wong, Jenny Yang, James Park

2. Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits CONTENTS AT A GLANCE • Definitions • Maternal and Parental Leave • Who is eligible • Length • Comparison • Maternal and Parental Benefit • Who is eligible • Amount • Comparison • Objectives of the policies • Effects on economy

3. Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits SOME DEFINITIONS • Maternal Leave: unpaid, job-protected leave for the mother after she gives birth to child • Parental Leave: unpaid, job-protected leave for both parents after child come into their care • Maternal Benefits & Parental Benefits: employment insurance payments from the federal Employment Insurance (EI) program

4. Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits M&P LEAVE: WHO IS ELIGIBLE? • Completed 3-12 consecutive months of employment, depending on provinces • Must give a written notice to the employer 1 month before the intended commencement • Medical certificate attesting to the state of the pregnancy and the expected date of birth

5. Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits MATERNITY LEAVE – HOW LONG IS IT?

6. Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits PARENTAL LEAVE – HOW LONG IS IT?

7. Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits WHO GETS THE LONGEST LEAVE?

8. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE BENEFIT Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits • All families and family types are eligible. • Full-time and Part-time are included • EI requirement: accumulated 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. • Salaried are covered, but self-employed are covered only in Quebec • Traditional as well as same-sex couples are included in distribution of time off

9. HOW MUCH DO YOU GET FROM THE BENEFIT? Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits Maternal Benefits • 15 weeks • Generally, are equal to 55% of an employee's average insurable earnings for the last 26 weeks • Maximum EI benefit of $413 per week (in 2002). • Benefits may begin as early as eight weeks before the week the baby is due and must generally conclude no later than 17 weeks after the baby is born

10. HOW MUCH DO YOU GET FROM THE BENEFIT? Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits Parental Benefits • Up to 35 weeks (can be received by one parent, male or female, or split between the two) • Generally, are equal to 55% of an employee's average insurable earnings for the last 26 weeks • Benefits may begin as early as eight weeks before the week the baby is due and must generally conclude no later than 17 weeks after the baby is born • Maximum EI benefit of $413 per week (in 2002).

11. Quebec Benefit Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits • Basic Plan: • Maternal :18 weeks, 70% • Paternity: 5 weeks, 70% • Parental: First 7 weeks, 70% Next 25 weeks, 55% • Special Plan: • Maternal : 15 weeks, 75% • Paternity: 3 weeks, 75% • Parental: 25 weeks, 75% maximum insurable amount of income is $59,000 (as of 2007)

12. WHO BENEFIT THE MOST? Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits

13. OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICY Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits • Encourage families to have children through EI benefits and job protected leave • Allow female workers to care for their newborn babies and to recover from pregnancy • Provide either or both parents with time to spend with their newborns

14. EFFECTS ON ECONOMY & DECISION MAKING Maternal & Parental Leaves and Benefits • More incentives for families to have children • Increased likelihood of returning to the same job after childbirth for women • Added benefit to the society • help parents stay in workforce • more children = more people in workforce

15. MATERNAL & PARENTAL LEAVES AND BENEFITS Thank you!