Maternity, parental and adoption leave for academic executives, faculty groups and postdoctoral fellows (employees)

What benefits will I receive during a maternity, parental or adoption leave?

The following tables show the Employment Insurance benefits and Supplemental Employment Benefits top-up that you may be eligible for.

Pregnant employee

Pregnant employees are eligible for up to 78 weeks of unpaid leave (17 weeks maternity plus 35 weeks standard parental leave or 61 weeks extended parental leave). During the unpaid leave, the pregnant employee can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) and Supplemental Employment Benefits top-up (SEB) (available during the maternity leave only). For parental leave, two parents may share the EI parental benefits and both parents are required to choose the same option, either standard or extended. You cannot change between options once parental benefits have been paid. The scenario below assumes the pregnant employee claims the full EI parental benefits (if there is sharing, then the payments will be adjusted).

Type of leaveEI benefits from Service CanadaSEB top-up from UBCAdditional SEB top-up upon return to work?6 month return to work requirement in order to keep SEB top-up?

Maternity

 

 

 

 

 

Week 1: unpaid

 

Week 2-16 (15 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week)

Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary

 

Week 2-16 (15 weeks): EI benefit topped up to 95% of salary

NoNo
Parental

Standard parental benefits

 

Week 17-51 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week)

OR

Extended parental benefits

Week 17 – 77 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $401/week)

Weeks 17-36 (20 weeks):EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $668/week) topped up to 95% of salary

 

The SEB top-up is calculated based on the standard parental leave option and the total dollar amount paid to you for the leave remains the same if you choose the extended parental leave option.

If your parental leave started prior to August 1, 2023, you are eligible for 10 weeks of SEB top-up.

NoNo

Birth parent

Birth parents are eligible for up to 62 weeks of unpaid parental leave (35 weeks standard parental leave or 62 weeks extended parental leave). During the unpaid leave, a birth parent can apply for Employment Insurance (EI). For parental leave, two parents may share the EI parental benefits and both parents are required to choose the same option, either standard or extended. You cannot change between options once parental benefits have been paid. The scenario below assumes the birth parent claims the full EI parental benefits (if there is sharing, then the payments will be adjusted).

Type of leaveEI benefits from Service CanadaSEB top-up from UBCAdditional SEB top-up upon return to work?6 month return to work requirement in order to keep SEB top-up?

Parental

 

Birth parent is not required to serve waiting period (satisfied by pregnant parent during maternity leave)

 

 

Standard parental benefits

 

Week 1-35 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week)

OR

Extended parental benefits

Week 1 – 61 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $401/week)

Week 1-20 (20 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $668/week) topped up to 95% of salary.

 

The SEB top-up is calculated based on the standard parental leave option and the total dollar amount paid to you for the leave remains the same if you choose the extended parental leave option.

If your parental leave started prior to August 1, 2023, you are eligible for 10 weeks of SEB top-up.

 

NoNo

Parental

 

Birth parent is required to serve waiting period

Week 1: unpaid

 

Standard parental benefits

Week 2-36 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week)

OR

Extended parental benefits

Week 2 – 62 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $401/week)

Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary

 

Week 2-21 (20 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $668/week) topped up to 95% of salary

The SEB top-up is calculated based on the standard parental leave option and the total dollar amount paid to you for the leave remains the same if you choose the extended parental leave option.

If your parental leave started prior to August 1, 2023, you are eligible for 11 weeks of SEB top-up (one week waiting period plus 10 weeks).

NoNo

Adopting parent

Adopting parents are eligible for up to 62 weeks of unpaid adoption leave (35 weeks standard parental leave or 62 weeks extended parental leave). During the unpaid leave, the adopting parent can apply for Employment Insurance (EI). For adoption leave, two parents may share the EI parental benefits and both parents are required to choose the same option, either standard or extended. You cannot change between options once parental benefits have been paid. The scenario below assumes one adopting parent claims the full EI parental benefits (if there is sharing, then the payments will be adjusted).

Type of leaveEI benefitsSEB top-upAdditional SEB top-up upon return to work?6 month return to work requirement in order to keep SEB top-up?
Parental

Week 1: unpaid

 

Standard parental benefits

Week 2-36 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week)

OR

Extended parental benefits

Week 2 – 62 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $401/week)

Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary

 

Week 2-21 (20 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $668/week) topped up to 95% of salary

The SEB top-up is calculated based on the standard parental leave option and the total dollar amount paid to you for the leave remains the same if you choose the extended parental leave option.

If your parental leave started prior to August 1, 2023, you are eligible for 11 weeks of SEB top-up (one week waiting period plus 10 weeks).

NoNo

 

 

Disclaimer

The benefits information on this website is provided as a descriptive summary only. While the University has endeavored to accurately reflect its benefit programs, policies and plans, the information on this website does not create any contractual or other rights between the University and its faculty and staff members. To the extent that there are any conflicts or discrepancies between the benefits information on this website and the benefit plan documents (including group insurance contracts and benefit booklets) or any applicable collective agreement, employment agreement, or UBC policy, the benefit plan documents and collective agreement, employment agreement, or UBC policy will govern in all cases.

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