Work, caregiver leave and taking time off for a child.
A sudden caregiving responsibility can collide with work immediately. Know the difference between job-protected leave and income-replacement benefits.
Part of our Caregiver Wellbeing resource series. See the main Caregiver Wellbeing guide for the wider topic and related resources. Following a guided route? Return to the Money & practical-needs route.
Information reviewed September 2026. Employment, benefit and program rules can change, so use the linked official source for current requirements.
Kinship caregiving can collide with work very quickly
A child may move into your home with appointments, school meetings, legal issues and no child care arranged. Some grandparents are retired, but many kinship caregivers are still working. PEI employment standards include several types of unpaid, job-protected leave that may be relevant depending on the situation.
PEI family responsibility leave
After 30 days of continuous employment, an employee can take up to three unpaid days in a 12-month period for family responsibilities under PEI employment standards.
This can help with shorter needs, but it is not designed to cover a long caregiving crisis.
Leave to care for a critically ill child
PEI employees who qualify can take up to 36 weeks of unpaid leave within a 52-week period to care for a critically ill child under 18. The employee must generally have worked for the same employer for at least three months.
For this leave, PEI's definition of parent includes an adoptive parent, foster parent, guardian or spouse of the child's parent. A medical certificate may be required. When the employee returns, the employer must return them to the same or a comparable job with the same pay and benefits.
PEI Leave for Care of a Critically Ill Child
Compassionate care leave
If you are caring for a family member, or someone considered like family, who has a serious medical condition and is at significant risk of dying within six months, PEI provides up to 28 weeks of unpaid compassionate care leave for qualifying employees.
EI Family Caregiver Benefit for Children
Up to 35 weeks of EI caregiving benefits may be available
The federal Family Caregiver Benefit for Children can provide up to 35 weeks of EI benefits when an eligible caregiver takes time away from work to provide care or support to a critically ill or injured child under 18.
The caregiver must be a family member or someone considered to be like family, and a doctor or nurse practitioner must certify that the child is critically ill or injured. Eligible caregivers can share the available weeks.
Canada: EI Caregiving BenefitsJob protection does not guarantee EI, and EI does not guarantee job protection
The provincial employment leave and federal EI benefit have their own rules. Check both. A caregiver can meet the requirements for one and not necessarily the other.
Talk with your employer in writing when possible
- Identify the type of leave you are requesting.
- Ask what medical or other documentation is required.
- Keep copies of your request and the employer's response.
- If the situation is changing quickly, document any temporary schedule agreement.
- Do not disclose more of the child's private medical or family history than the law or leave process requires.
Other work arrangements can still matter
Depending on the employer, a caregiver may also be able to use vacation, banked time, flexible scheduling, remote work, an employee assistance program or other workplace accommodations. Those are not guaranteed by this page, but they are worth asking about.
Questions to ask before reducing hours or leaving work
- Is this caregiving arrangement expected to last days, months or years?
- Can I use a job-protected leave instead of resigning?
- Could EI replace some of my income?
- Will reduced hours affect my pension, benefits or insurance?
- What child care or transportation support could make continued work possible?
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