On December 10, the Alberta Employment Standards introduced significant amendments to the Regulation concerning critical illness leave.
Effective January 1, 2026, employees in Alberta will be entitled to take up to 27 weeks of critical or injury leave per calendar year (an increase from 16 weeks). If an employee started the leave before January 1, 2026, the length of the leave can be adjusted. If the new end date of the leave exceeds the date on the medical certificate provided to the employer, a new medical certificate must be submitted to the employer.
Employers must:
- Review and update their leave policies to reflect the new 27-week entitlement;
- Ensure their payroll systems are updated accordingly;
- Ensure managers and HR staff are appropriately trained on the changes; and
- Proactively communicate the new benefits to their employees.