Leave Laws
Last updated on February 26, 2026.
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Prince Edward Island
Vacation Leave Quota
2 or 3 weeks of vacation.
In Prince Edward Island, employees are entitled to 2 consecutive weeks of vacation leave after the first 8 years of employment and 3 consecutive weeks of leave after 8 years of employment.
Vacation Pay
4% or 6% of gross wages.
Employees are entitled to vacation pay of 4% of gross wages for the first eight years of employment and 6 % of gross wages after eight years of employment.
Statutory Provisions Addressing Vacation Pay
Vacation leave is considered earned wages.
Payment of Accrued, Unused Vacation Upon Termination
Accrued, unused vacation must be paid upon termination.
The employee’s earnings must be paid upon termination of employment. An employer is required to pay the employee no later than the last day of the next regular pay period.
Carryover
The “use-it-or-lose-it” policy is illegal in Prince Edward Island.
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.
Sick Leave in Prince Edward Island
Paid Sick Leave
Up to 3 days of paid leave
Employees in Prince Edward Island may take up to 3 days of paid leave.
Paid sick leave eligibility and accrual are based on an employee’s continuous length of service with the company:
- After 1 year of employment: 1 day of paid sick leave
- After 2 years of employment: 2 days
- After 3 year of employment: 3 days
This paid leave is in addition to existing unpaid sick days and must be exhausted before an employee transitions to unpaid sick time.
Unused paid sick days expire at the end of each calendar year and don’t roll over into the following one.
This law came into effect on October 1, 2024.
Payout
Whether hourly or salaried, employees receive their regular rate of pay for the hours of sick leave.
Unpaid Sick Leave
Up to 3 days of unpaid leave.
Employees who have been employed for at least 3 months are entitled to up to 3 days of unpaid leave over 12 months. If an employee takes off three days in a row, the employer may request a medical certificate.
Family Leave
Up to 3 days of unpaid leave.
Employees who have been employed for at least 6 months are entitled to up to 3 days of unpaid leave per year to provide care for a person who is a member of the immediate family (a spouse, a child, a parent, or a brother/sister) or extended family of the employee (a grandparent, a grandchild, in-laws, an uncle, etc.).
Compassionate Care Leave
Up to 28 weeks of unpaid leave.
Employees are entitled to up to 28 weeks of unpaid leave to provide care and support to a family member with a serious health condition with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks. Leave can be taken for periods no shorter than a week and by 2 or more employees, not to exceed 28 weeks. A written notice and a medical certificate are required.
Leave for Care of a Critically Ill Child
Up to 37 weeks of unpaid leave.
Employees are entitled to up to 37 weeks of unpaid leave within 52 weeks to care for a critically ill child under 18. Leave may be taken for periods not shorter than a week. Leave may be taken by 2 or more employees for the same critically ill child or children, not to exceed 37 weeks. A written notice and a medical certificate are required. Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for the same employer for at least 3 consecutive months.
Domestic Violence Leave, Intimate Partner Violence Leave, or Sexual Violence Leave
Up to 3 days of paid leave and up to 7 additional days of unpaid leave per year.
Employees who have worked at least 3 months for the same employer are entitled to up to 3 days of paid leave and up to 7 additional days of unpaid leave per year. Leave may be taken for various reasons related to seeking medical attention, accessing services from a victim services organization, receiving psychological or other professional counseling, etc.
Maternity, Paternity, and Parental Leave in Prince Edward Island
The maternity leave could last a maximum of 78 weeks (the maternity leave itself lasts for 17 weeks, and after that, mothers can take an additional 61 weeks of parental leave).
Maternity Leave
Up to 17 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave.
Employees are entitled to take up to 17 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave if they have been employed by their current employer for at least 20 weeks during the previous 52 weeks before their leave.
Leave can be taken at any time during the period of 13 weeks immediately preceding the estimated date of birth. Employees are entitled to up to 6 additional weeks if the actual date of birth is later than the estimated date.
Employees must provide written notice and a medical certificate.
Parental Leave
Up to 62 weeks of unpaid leave.
Eligible employees are entitled to up to 62 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave to care for their newborn or adopted child. Leave may be taken by the mother and/or the father, not to exceed 62 weeks in total.
The rules for eligibility are the same as for maternity leave (working 20 weeks in the previous 52 weeks).
Employees must provide written notice and a medical certificate.
Payout
Maternity and parental leave in Prince Edward Island are unpaid.
Bereavement Leave in Prince Edward Island
2 or 3 days.
Employees are entitled to up to 1 day of paid leave and 2 days of unpaid leave if the deceased person was a member of the immediate family of the employee (a spouse, a child, a parent, or a brother/sister) and up to 3 consecutive days of unpaid leave if the deceased person was a member of the employee’s extended family (a grandparent, a grandchild, in-laws, an uncle, etc.).
Starting from November 17, 2021, staff who have gone through a prenatal pregnancy loss or stillbirth are eligible to take bereavement leave, just like those who have lost an immediate family member. Additionally, employees who are the spouse, partner, or intended parent of a child born through a surrogacy agreement would also have the right to take this leave in the event of a prenatal pregnancy loss or stillbirth.
Jury Duty Leave in Prince Edward Island
Leave without pay.
Employees are entitled to take an unpaid leave of absence if they are selected to serve on a jury or are required to appear as a witness in court. This type of leave must be granted to an employee who is summoned or selected to serve on a jury, or is needed to attend a hearing, an application, or a proceeding as a witness.
Payout
Jury duty leave in Prince Edward Island is unpaid. However, jurors can claim an allowance or compensation from the government for time spent in court. In Prince Edward Island, jurors receive $40 per day.
Reservists’ Leave in Prince Edward Island
Leave without pay.
Employees who are members of the Canadian Forces and who have been employed for at least 6 consecutive months are entitled to job-protected unpaid leave for the period necessary to accommodate the period of service for which the employee is required to take leave. Employees must provide reasonable verification and written notice. Employers must reinstate employees.
Payout
Reservists’ leave is unpaid.
Voting Leave in Prince Edward Island
1 paid hour of leave.
All employees who are qualified to vote have the right to 1 hour during polling hours on Election Day to cast their vote. In cases where 1 hour is not available outside of work hours, the employer has the authority to decide when the employee can take time off during the workday based on what is most convenient for the employer.
Payout
Voting leave is paid by an employer.
The 2023 Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island
8 paid holidays.
The statutory holidays in Prince Edward Island for 2023 are:
| Holiday | Date (General Rule) |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 |
| Islander Day | Third Monday of February |
| Good Friday | Friday before Easter |
| Canada Day | July 1 |
| Labour Day | First Monday in September |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30 |
| Remembrance Day | November 11 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
Prince Edward Island statutory holidays 2027: dates, substitute days and long weekends →
Sources of Prince Edward Island Leave Laws
- Employment Standards, https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/employment-standards-0
- Leave Options / Time Away from Work, https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/leave-options-time-away-from-work
- Province Proclaims Paid Sick Leave, https://www.peihrtoolkit.ca/province-proclaims-paid-sick-leave/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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Leave Laws pages will help you find out more about laws in other Canadian provinces and territories, as well as various other countries.
This material is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For current and accurate guidance, please consult legal counsel in your jurisdiction.
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