Long-Term Illness or Injury Leave Legislation in Effect
On March 20, 2026, the National Payroll Institute published the introduction of a new long-term illness or injury leave in New Brunswick on Late Breaking Payroll News.
On June 24, 2026, the Institute advised members through Late Breaking Payroll News that New Brunswick had passed legislation introducing a new long-term illness or injury leave under the province’s employment standards framework. The Institute has since confirmed with New Brunswick Employment Standards that the legislation came into force on June 12, 2026, the date it received Royal Assent.
This new leave will allow New Brunswick employees with a serious medical condition to take up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave (in a 52-week period).
Key details include the following:
- Employees must have at least 90 continuous days of employment with their employer;
- The leave can extend up to 27 weeks (in a 52-week period) and must be taken in periods of at least one week in duration;
- The employee must advise the employer of each period of leave the employee intends to take if the leave is taken over multiple periods; and
- A certificate from a qualified health professional stating that the employee is incapable of working due to illness or injury is required.
Employers in New Brunswick must:
- Review and update employment policies, employee handbooks and, where applicable, collective agreements to include the new long-term illness or injury leave as a protected leave of absence.
- Communicate the change to managers, payroll, human resources and employees so that leave requests are identified, administered and documented consistently.