Parental Leave

Note: This page is for residents whose partner is having a baby.
If you are the one expecting, please visit the Maternity Leave page, which outlines both phases of your leave

 

Notifying Your Residency Program

  • Eligibility: Residents who become parents through the birth of a child are entitled to up to 35 weeks of unpaid parental leave.
  • When to apply: Provide your Program Director with at least two (2) weeks’ written notice of your planned leave, including your start and end dates.
  • Program process: Your program will submit your leave information through DalMedix to the PGME Office (Dalhousie). PGME will then notify Nova Scotia Health (NSH) and Maritime Resident Doctors (MarDocs) of your leave and effective dates.
  • Important:
    • NSH employees cannot split their parental leave.
    • If you return to work early and later wish to take more time off, this would be considered an unpaid personal leave.
    • You would lose any remaining top-up payments, but you may be able to reopen your EI claim — contact Service Canada to confirm.
       

Seven-Day Paid Leave

  • Residents are entitled to seven (7) consecutive calendar days of paid leave immediately following the birth of their child.
  • This leave must be taken right after the birth — it cannot be deferred or used later.
  • Provide as much notice as possible to help your program plan coverage and maintain patient care responsibilities.

 

Employment Insurance

Once your parental leave begins:

  • Payroll will electronically send your Record of Employment (ROE) to Service Canada.
  • You can also access your ROE through your Service Canada online account.
  • Apply for EI as soon as your baby is born — do not wait for your ROE to arrive.
  • EI will not pay retroactively, so apply promptly.
  • Learn more or apply at Service Canada – Employment Insurance.

Parental Leave Top-Up

During the first 12 weeks of parental leave, residents may receive Supplementary Employment Benefits (S.E.B.) in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

 

Allowance details:

  • If you serve the EI waiting period:
    • Week 1: 75% of your salary (EI waiting period)
    • Next 11 weeks: 93% of your salary minus EI benefit (top-up)
  • If you do not serve a waiting period:
    • 12 weeks of top-up at 93% of salary (minus EI benefit)
  • After the top-up period, you may take up to 24 additional unpaid weeks of parental leave, receiving only EI benefits from the government.

 

To activate your top-up:

  1. Wait until your EI claim is active.
  2. Log in to Service Canada → My Payments and print your EI payment summary (stub).
  3. Fax it to 902-473-4451 or email it to meded@nshealth.ca.
  4. Top-up payments will begin on the next pay cycle and continue for your top-up period.

 

Ongoing requirement:

  • You must submit your EI stub each time you receive an EI payment.
  • If your spouse already served the waiting period, you do not need to serve one yourself.

 

Vacation Impact

  • You do not accrue vacation while on parental leave.
  • Your vacation for that academic year will be prorated based on your months worked.

 

Group Benefits During Leave

  • Your MarDocs group benefits continue during leave with the same cost-sharing arrangement.
  • While receiving top-up, your premiums continue to be deducted automatically.
  • Once your top-up ends, you must complete a DEFT form to allow continued deductions directly from your bank account.
    • If you don’t, your benefits remain active, but premiums will be charged in one lump sum upon return.

 

After Baby Arrives

  • If you need to switch to family coverage: Complete the Canada Life Change Form and send to Leanne@mardocs.ca.
  • If you already have family coverage: Log in to my.canadalife.com → Profile → Beneficiaries & Dependents to add your baby.

 

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