Buying service for a leave
Learn more about leave types, purchase options, the value of purchasing service, costs, and deadlines.
Which leaves you can buy
A leave of absence is an employer-approved absence from work. It can include:
- Employment Standards Act (ESA) — approved leaves
- General leave
- General shared leave
- Other
The kind of leave you take affects the cost and purchase options you have when buying service. Continue reviewing this guide for more details.
Employment Standards Act (ESA) — approved leaves
Provincially regulated leaves that eligible members are entitled to take. The cost is shared between you and your employer.
Refer to the following table for clarification of leave limits per leave of absence type. Although this list is regularly updated, you should consult your employer or the ESA for the most up-to-date leaves and additional important information.
| Leave of absence type | Leave limits |
|---|---|
| Maternity | 17 weeks |
| Parental - Birth parent that has taken Maternity leave | 61 weeks |
| Parental – Non-birth parent | 62 weeks |
| Adoption | 62 weeks |
| Compassionate Care | 27 weeks within 52 week period |
| Disappearance of a Child | 52 weeks |
| Death of a Child | 104 weeks |
| Critical Illness/Injury for family members under 19 | 36 weeks |
| Critical Illness/Injury for family members over 19 | 16 weeks |
| Domestic or Sexual Violence | 5 days paid, 5 days unpaid |
| Bereavement | 3 days |
| Covid-19 Related | Employer specific |
| Personal Illness or Injury | 3 days |
| Family Responsibility | 5 days |
References to the ESA in this Buying service for a leave guide also apply to members working for federally regulated employers covered by the Canada Labour Code.
General leaves
Leaves that extend past the leave limit or not covered by the ESA, are referred to as “general” leaves. A general leave can be purchased after the period has ended.
General shared leave
A leave that is considered general, however, your employer will pay for its share if specified in your collective agreement.
Other
If you take unpaid or partially paid leave, you can buy service for the time you were not contributing to the plan.
If you take a leave with full pay, you continue to earn service and do not need to buy it. Your pension contributions continue during a paid leave.
Layoff periods
You can buy service for a period of layoff as a general leave of absence if:
- You were laid off and placed on a recall list.
- You worked a continuing contract or had seniority rights at the time of layoff and were eligible and chose to join the recall list.
- You worked a temporary contract and were laid off before the contract expired, and were eligible and chose to join the recall list. In this case, you can apply to purchase the remaining months of your temporary contract
You must apply to buy service for a layoff period either while you are an active member or within 30 days of ending employment with all plan employers.
If you expect your layoff will extend beyond six months, and your recall rights have not expired, you must apply within 30 days after the six-month period ends. This is because after six months the plan considers you to have terminated employment for pension purposes.