Are you a caregiver?

If you take care of a loved one and you are employed, this commitment will most likely have an impact on your professional and personal life.

Caregiver-work conciliation is essential in your situation, because it can allow you to stay employed, maintain a certain financial, social and emotional autonomy, and thus reduce stress, anxiety and social isolation.

Your role is essential!

Caregiver benefits

Your rights

How to inform your employer

Other support and resources

Caregiver benefits

Short-term absences

This measure provided for in the Act Respecting Labour Standards in Quebec allows you to be absent 10 days per year (including 2 paid days) for your obligations as a caregiver.

Learn more

Vidéo : Les absences de courte durée pour proche aidant

Employment Insurance (EI) benefits

If you have to take time off work to care for a loved one on an occasional or continuous basis, you may be eligible for Employment Insurance caregiver benefits.

Learn more

Vidéo : Les prestations d'assurance emploi pour proche aidant

Compassionate care benefits

If you are caring for a loved one at the end of life and this commitment has an impact on your work, you have access to compassionate care benefits for family caregivers.

Learn more

Your rights

In Quebec, the rights of caregivers in the workplace are protected by the Act Respecting Labour Standards. This law recognizes your right to be temporarily absent from work to fulfill your obligations as a caregiver, including to care for a loved one who is ill, seriously injured or at the end of life. You are also entitled to three weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for a loved one at the end of life.

Employers have an obligation to take the needs of caregivers into account and seek solutions to facilitate work/family balance. Caregiver workers also have the right not to suffer discrimination or reprisals because of their status as caregivers.

Vidéo : 5 étapes clé pour discuter de conciliation avec votre employeur

It can be difficult to balance your responsibilities as a caregiver with your work, but it is important to inform your employer in order to obtain reconciliation measures.

In this video, we show you the 5 key steps to discuss with your employer.

How to inform your employer

5 key steps to discuss with your employer

Target your top three needs.
For example: adapt your schedule, work from home for a day.
Find out about existing measures at your workplace, in particular in the collective agreement or the family/work policy.
Prepare for the meeting with your employer by obtaining a caregiver certificate from a healthcare professional, and plan what you want to say to the person.
Choose a quiet moment for the meeting so your employer is receptive, and advise the person of the subject matter in advance so they can prepare.
Tips for the meeting:
- Be transparent. If some information is confidential, mention the fact.
- Adopt a win/win attitude – quid pro quo – compromise.
- Do not officially accept any assistance measure before thinking it through.
- For example, evaluate its impact on your salary.
- Ask your employer to acknowledge that the measures agreed upon may change and prepare a communication plan outlining the information to be shared with colleagues.