Job-protected leave · Quebec
Quebec pregnancy & parental leave.
How long Quebec employment standards require your employer to hold your job open during pregnancy/maternity and parental leave — not how many weeks EI pays you, a separate question.
Pregnancy/maternity leave: 18 weeks. Parental leave: 65 weeks. The combined maximum is 85 weeks.
Your situation
Job-protected leave length
Choose your situation and press Calculate.
Quebec's pregnancy and parental leave rules
| Leave | Length |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy/maternity leave | 18 weeks |
| Parental leave (birth parent who also took pregnancy leave) | 65 weeks |
| Parental leave (other parent, adoptive parent, or no pregnancy leave taken) | 65 weeks |
| Paternity leave (separate, non-birth parent) | 5 weeks |
| Combined maximum | 85 weeks |
Qualifying period
None -- both maternity and paternity leave are available "regardless of the length of their uninterrupted service."
Notes
Act respecting Labour Standards (CNESST). Quebec runs THREE leave types, not two: maternity leave (18 weeks, birth parent), paternity leave (5 weeks, the non-birth parent’s own leave, not transferable and not shared from the parental pool), and parental leave (up to 65 weeks). CNESST’s plain-language page reads as EACH parent independently getting up to 65 weeks of parental leave rather than one shared pool as in most other provinces -- flagged here as not independently cross-checked against the Act’s own articles (ss.81.10-81.17). The statute states parental leave must end no later than 85 weeks after the birth or adoption placement. A separate 5-day (2 paid) leave for the birth or adoption of a child exists on top of all of the above.
Source, read directly 26 September 2026: CNESST -- Maternity, paternity and parental leave.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as how long EI pays maternity/parental benefits?
No. This is the EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS job-protection length — how long your employer must hold your job. EI benefit PAYMENTS run on a separate schedule set by the federal Employment Insurance Act, which can be shorter or longer. See the EI Maternity & Parental Calculator for the benefit-payment side.
Can my employer refuse to give me this leave?
Not if you meet the qualifying period stated above. This is a statutory right, not something an employer can decline at its discretion.
Do I get my exact job back?
You are generally entitled to reinstatement in the same position, or a comparable one if your original role no longer exists, at the same or better pay and benefits, when your leave ends.
Does an employer benefit plan or contract change these numbers?
A contract or plan can offer MORE than the statutory minimum shown here (for example, paid top-up during part of the leave), but never less. This page shows the legislated floor only.
Estimate only — not legal advice
This page states the statutory MINIMUM job-protected leave length from the published employment-standards legislation for Quebec. It is not legal advice and does not model shared-custody-style splitting beyond what is stated, mid-leave changes in circumstance, or a unionized workplace's collective agreement (which can differ). For a binding answer, contact the employment-standards office named above or a lawyer.