The expanded leave
Effective January 1, 2026, Alberta’s long-term illness and injury leave increased to 27 weeks per calendar year. Eligibility generally begins after 90 days with the same employer.
The leave is unpaid unless an employment contract or collective agreement provides otherwise. A physician or nurse practitioner can issue the medical certificate, which states the estimated duration of the leave.
Continuity and return
Employees on the leave remain continuously employed for service calculations and are entitled to return to the same or an equivalent job. Alberta’s notice rules include written notice as soon as reasonably possible, an estimated return date and at least one week’s notice of the intended return unless the parties agree otherwise.