Effective January 1, 2026, employers must provide a longer period of long term illness
and injury leave to their employees.

The Alberta government has made a substantial change to the Employment Standards
Code, increasing the maximum period of long term illness and injury leave from 16
weeks to 27 weeks per calendar year. This change brings the length of this job-
protected leave into alignment with other Canadian provinces, including British
Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

To qualify for long term illness and injury leave, employees must have completed at
least 90 days of employment with the same employer and must provide a medical
certificate confirming the need for the leave due to illness or injury. Employers are not
obligated to pay employees during this leave but are obligated to reinstate employees to
their previous position or an equivalent one after the leave.

As a result of this extension of the period of long term illness and injury leave,
employers are encouraged to review their policies and procedures to ensure
compliance with this new legislative requirement. The Employment Law team at Walsh
LLP is ready and available to assist.

Employment Team

Carmelle Hunka and Brody Sikstrom