Alberta’s government is proposing an amendment to provincial labour legislation that would extend bereavement leave to parents who’ve experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth.
The proposed amendments would expand access to any employee who would’ve been a parent, including biological parents, adoptive parents and surrogates, according to a press release. While employees won’t be required to provide proof of entitlement to take leave, they’ll have to give their employer as much notice as possible.
Read: A look at current provincial policies on bereavement leave
“Allowing individuals time to grieve after a miscarriage, stillbirth or any kind of pregnancy loss is a long overdue change,” said Aditi Loveridge, founder and chief executive officer of the Calgary-based Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Centre, in the release. “I’m pleased that the Alberta government is taking this first step in recognizing that individuals and their families deserve time to process and are being allowing job-protected leave during these difficult times.”
The province currently provides employees with three days of unpaid, job-protected bereavement leave per year, which can be taken for the death of an immediate or extended family member, including anyone the employee considers a close relative.
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