Key details
The amendment replaces the previous rules granting a total of 26 weeks of government- paid leave to parents of triplets and quadruplet within 18 months of the births.
Under the new change, employees who give birth or adopt two or more children at the same time are now entitled to an additional 13 weeks of government paid leave per parent. The total leave entitlement per parent will be 37 weeks, which includes 24 weeks of family leave entitlement (combined maternity, paternity and parental leave) and the additional 13 weeks granted to new parents of two or more children, as follows:
- Two weeks – allocated to each parent immediately after the birth of a child (cannot be transferred to the other parent)
- Nine weeks – allocated to each parent after the birth of a child (cannot be transferred to the other parent)
- 13 weeks – allocated to each parent after the birth of a child (may be transferred to the other parent)
- 13 additional weeks – allocated to each parent after the birth of two or more children (cannot be transferred to the other parent); leave must be taken within 12 months of the births or adoptions.
While the extended leave entitlement is non transferrable between legal parents, it may be fully or partially transferred to a social parent (one who is not legally recognized as a parent but has a parental relationship with the child, e.g., partners). Like the legal parent, the social parent is required to take the additional government-paid leave within 12 months of the birth or adoption.
Single parents
A single parent who gives birth to or adopts one child remains entitled to 46 weeks of family leave. A single parent who gives birth to or adopts two or more children is now entitled to the additional 13 weeks of government-paid leave for a total of 59 weeks of government-paid leave. Single parents also have the option to apply for an additional 13 weeks of government-paid leave to be used by a designated close family member or a social parent. This additional leave may also be shared between several specified family members or social parents.
Interaction with Bereavement Leave
The additional leave will not apply if one of the multiples is stillborn, but parents remain entitled to both the additional 13 weeks of leave as well as bereavement leave of 26 weeks, if one of the children dies after birth.
Next steps
Employers should audit their current policies, procedures, handbooks, and agreements to bring them into compliance with the additional leave allotment. Companies will need to determine their obligations under any collective agreements to which they are a party.