What you should know about job‑protected leave

As people in Canada live longer, with longer careers, more people are likely to develop a serious illness while in the workforce. The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) believes people facing a life-threatening disease such as cancer should be able to take time away from work for treatment and recovery without fear of losing their job.  

That’s why in partnership with people with cancer, survivors, caregivers, and supporters, CCS has advocated for years to build a stronger safety net for working-age people facing cancer. 

And that hard work is paying off! CCS has successfully advocated for people facing serious illness so they now have access to job-protected leave in every Canadian province. 

Find out what this national milestone really means for people facing cancer: 

1. What is job-protected leave? 

Job-protected illness leave is a legal right that allows people with serious illness to take time off work for treatment or recovery without worrying about their job. 

2. What’s the difference between job-protected leave and the Employment Insurance sickness benefit?

The federal Employment Insurance sickness benefit, which CCS advocacy also played a big role in making possible, offers temporary financial assistance, or sickness benefit, to workers for 26 weeks. 

Job-protected leave is different. It protects your job while you’re away from work due to illness. Until recently, each province had its own rules for job-protected leave. In some provinces, workers were entitled to as little as 3 days of protected leave, far less than the 26 weeks available through EI sickness benefits. This meant some people could qualify for EI benefits but still risk losing their job if they need more time away from work for treatment or recovery. 

Now with job-protected leave, people in every province facing cancer are empowered to take the time they need to focus on getting better, without worrying about losing their job.

3. How can I access job-protected leave? 
 
With the passing of job-protected leave legislation, accessing it has been made much easier in every province for everyone. To take leave for something like a cancer diagnosis and treatment, people in Canada should notify their employer in writing with relevant medical documentation while also applying for financial help like the EI sickness benefit, short-term disability, or long-term disability. 

In each province, job-protected leave rights apply equally to full-time, part-time and contract employees. For more information, please consult the Employment Standards for your province, your union representative, and/or your employer's Human Resources department. 

4. What does job-protected leave mean for people facing cancer?  

For people facing cancer in Canada, a diagnosis can bring more than medical or physical challenges. Hearing the words, “You have cancer” often has impacts on mental health and can cause financial stress. 

Job-protected leave helps ease some of that burden by ensuring people can take time off for treatment and recovery without worrying about losing their job. Combined with federal income supports, it means more people can focus on what matters most – getting better.

5. What else can we do to raise our collective voice for better health policies? 

Changing public policy is one of the most effective tools for preventing cancer and improving the lives of people affected by cancer. That’s why CCS works with volunteers and governments to amplify the voices of people across Canada and protect the health of Canadians. 

See what else CCS is doing to bring about healthy public policies to help prevent cancer and improve the lives of people living with cancer and their caregivers. 

Find out how you can help amplify the voices of people affected by cancer by raising your voice to influence the policies that shape cancer care in Canada.