Compassionate Care Leave introduced in Alberta
Posted Feb 1, 2014 12:28 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Albertans caring for family members battling a grave disease will no longer have to choose between their jobs and loved ones.
The new Compassionate Care Leave is an eight week, unpaid, job protected leave similar to maternity leave.
Employees must have worked for an employer for at least 52 weeks to be eligible for the leave and can collect up to six weeks of E.I. during the leave.
Health Minister Fred Horne said creating this leave is about alleviating stress for those in a stressful situation.
“We recognize that family caregivers also need support–caring for those who care,” said Horne.
“Compassionate Care Leave is the first step but giving them one less thing to worry about and provides that all important peace of mind.”
Anna Mann, executive director with the Alberta Caregivers Association, said sometimes it seems no one is looking out for the caregivers.
“[Caregivers] have high rates of depression, they’re more likely to be socially isolated, have poor physical health. They’re more likely to struggle financially,” explains Mann.
“In the past, when we would talk about support for caregivers, it was often ‘What information do they need so that they can be a better caregiver for the person they are caring for?’, rather than ‘What support do they need to stay healthy and whole so that they are able to continue providing care’.”
Compassionate Care Leave was introduced Saturday.
