Manitoba Leave Laws & Holidays

Last updated on February 23, 2026

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Manitoba

Vacation Leave Quota 

A minimum of 2 to 3 weeks

For the first four years of employment, employees are entitled to a minimum of 2 weeks of vacation per year.  

After the fifth consecutive year, they are entitled to at least 3 weeks of vacation. 

Employers are allowed to provide employees with more vacation time than is legally required. This is common practice in many workplaces. 

Vacation Pay 

2% of the wages earned in that year. 

Employees are entitled to receive 2% of their wages earned in the year for each week of vacation. Employers may choose to include this vacation pay in each paycheck or pay it out at the time the vacation leave is taken. 

PTO Accruals

PTO accruals aren’t mandatory in Manitoba, but are widely used by companies. 

Employers are generally free to design their own vacation accrual system, although it is usually based on the pay period (payroll cycle). 

Carryover 

The “use-it-or-lose-it” policy is illegal in Manitoba. 

The “use-it-or-lose-it” refers to a policy or benefit that requires employees to use a certain amount of vacation time within a certain timeframe, or risk losing it. 

Statutory Provisions Addressing Vacation Pay 

Vacation leave is considered earned wages. 

Payment of Accrued, Unused Vacation on Termination 

The employee’s earnings must be paid upon termination of employment. 

Employers are required to pay all of the wages that an employee has earned up until their last day of work. This payment must be made within 10 business days of the employee’s last day of work. 

Sick Leave in Manitoba

Long-Term Leave for Serious Injury or Illness

Up to 27 weeks

Employees in Manitoba may take up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for a serious illness or injury in a 52-week period.

Leave must be taken as a single, uninterrupted period unless a different arrangement is mutually agreed upon between the employer and employee or outlined in a collective agreement.

This leave used to be available for up to 17 weeks until November 7, 2024, and after that it has been extended to up to 27 weeks. This brings the policy in line with federal EI sickness benefits and similar provincial standards.

Eligibility

Employees with a minimum of 90 days of continuous service with the company are eligible for this leave. They must submit a medical certificate from a doctor or nurse practitioner confirming the need for the leave as soon as practicable.

Job Protection

Employers are prohibited from laying off or terminating employees for requesting or taking this type of leave. Also, upon return, employees must be reinstated to their original or a comparable position with salary and benefits equal to or greater than those previously held.

Enhanced Leave Benefits

Employers can provide greater benefits for this type of leave. They can offer additional leave than those provided for in the legislation or paid days of leave.

Family Leave 

3 days of unpaid leave 

Family leave allows employees to take unpaid time off to address family responsibilities or personal illness without worrying about losing their job. 

The legislation allows employees to take 3 unpaid days off per year for family leave. However, many employers choose to offer more generous benefits, such as additional days off or paid leave, beyond what is required by law. 

All employees who have been employed by the same employer for at least 30 days are entitled to take family leave. 

Payout 

Employers are not obligated to pay wages during the leave period. 

Compassionate Care Leave 

Up to 28 weeks

Compassionate Care Leave is a type of leave that allows employees to take time off work to care for and support a family member who is critically ill. This leave typically lasts up to 28 weeks and is intended to provide employees with the time and flexibility they need to be there for their loved ones during a difficult time. 

Payout 

Employers are not obligated to pay wages to employees during their leave. 

Maternity, Paternity, and Parental Leave in Manitoba

Maternity Leave 

Up to 17 weeks

Employers are required to provide pregnant employees with up to 17 weeks of unpaid maternity leave. Leave can begin up to 17 weeks before the expected birth date, and the latest that leave can last is 17 weeks after the birth. Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked with the same employer for at least 7 consecutive months. Employees are entitled to receive additional days equal to the number of days between the expected date and the birth. Employees are required to provide 4 weeks’ written notice. 

Payout 

Maternity leave in Manitoba is unpaid. 

Parental Leave 

Up to 63 weeks 

Employers are required to provide employees with up to 63 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a child after birth or adoption. Leave must be taken in a single, uninterrupted period. Birth mothers are allowed to take parental leave immediately following maternity leave. Parental leave can begin up to 18 months after the birth or adoption of a child. Employees must provide at least four weeks’ written notice prior to leave. 

Payout 

Parental leave in Manitoba is unpaid. 

Bereavement Leave in Manitoba

Up to 5 days of unpaid leave. 

Employers are required to provide employees with up to 5 days of unpaid bereavement leave to deal with the death of a family member. Employees are eligible for leave if they have been employed for at least 30 days with the same employer. Employees may be requested to provide reasonable verification, such as an obituary (from a local newspaper, for example). 

Payout 

Bereavement leave in Manitoba is unpaid. 

Jury Duty Leave in Manitoba

All employers must allow employees to take unpaid leave in order to attend court as jurors. 

In Manitoba, employers are required by law to give employees time off work if they are summoned to serve on a jury. It is up to the employer’s discretion whether jury duty leave is paid or unpaid. When the employee returns to work after completing their jury duty, the employer must give them their old job back or a similar one with the same pay. 

It is illegal for an employer to threaten to fire an employee or penalize them financially because they have been called to serve on a jury. This applies to both direct and indirect threats. 

Payout 

In Manitoba, employers aren’t required to pay wages to employees during jury duty leave. However, people serving on a jury will receive a jury fee for each day of their service. 

Reservists’ Leave in Manitoba

Employees in the Canadian Forces Reserves are entitled to unpaid leave as long as they serve on active duty or during training. 

Employers are required to provide employees who are members of the Canadian Forces Reserves with job-protected unpaid leave in order to take part in active duty or training. Leave can be taken as long as the members continue to serve. There is no restriction on length. Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for the same employer for 3 consecutive months. Employers must reinstate employees to a previous position or a similar one with the same benefits and wages as they had before the leave.  Employees must provide written notice and may be required to provide a certificate. 

Payout 

Reservists’ leave is unpaid. 

Voting Leave in Manitoba

3 paid consecutive hours

On election day, employees who are eligible to vote are entitled to have 3 consecutive hours off work to go and vote. This time off must be given during the hours when the polls are open. If an employee’s work schedule does not allow for three consecutive hours off to vote, their employer must give them additional time off upon request to ensure they have three consecutive hours to vote. The employer may choose the time for the required time off work. 

Payout 

An employer must not lower an employee’s pay or impose any other penalties for taking time off work as required by the Elections Act. 

Statutory Holidays in Manitoba

8 public holidays

Most employees are paid general holiday pay for these days whether they work or not. 

The statutory holidays in Manitoba are: 

If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday that an employee does not typically work, the employee is entitled to the following regular workday off with holiday pay. 

Manitoba statutory holidays 2027: dates, substitute days and long weekends →

Source of Manitoba Leave Laws

1. Manitoba Employment Standards> A Summary of Leave of Absence Options,  https://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/doc,unpaid-leave,factsheet.html
2. Long-Term Leave for Serious Injury or Illness, https://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/doc,long_term_leave,factsheet.html

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Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about laws in different Canadian provinces and various other countries.