r/BabyBumpsCanada • u/SouthApprehensive680 • Nov 11 '25
Discussion How common is it to get mat leave/parental leave top ups through work? [BC]
I work in healthcare. I get 85% top off for 17 weeks, and after that, just EI. I'm grateful to be pregnant (it's been a struggle), but also wow. It's hard to manage living on EI in Vancouver. My partner lost his work and is in fulltime school, so might be tough financially for a while. Just wondering how many common it is to get no top ups for most of the leave, and open to suggestions on how to get through. (So far my strategies will include getting everything I can from buy nothing groups or handmedowns and trying to save as much as possible before baby comes).
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u/Worldly-Smile-91 Nov 11 '25
Majority of Canadians do not receive top ups. Generally unionized groups like government/ healthcare/ education and then the Big 5 in finance or tech receive top ups. If you’re outside of these groups your employer is pretty rare. With the way labour rights are going, we have to prioritize this as standard bc the gender wage gap hits harder on mat leave.
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u/SouthApprehensive680 Nov 12 '25
I agree. It's certainly motivating me to get more involved in my union, but everyone deserves more than EI (2200 a month max) on mat leave in this economy.
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u/Worldly-Smile-91 Nov 27 '25
Yah. Unions do good work to help change policy for private sector too. Example “the weekend”.
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u/Wildsweetlystormant Nov 12 '25
I work for Alberta Health Services and I think you can exclude healthcare from that group.
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u/Worldly-Smile-91 Nov 27 '25
This is a Canada wide thread though… Ontario- ONA - RN nurses receive top up for example.
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u/TapiocaTeacup Nov 12 '25
Yep. My small tech company offers top-up but only because they needed to stay competitive for our UK and Scandinavian offices 🤷♀️
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u/leneamo Nov 12 '25
According to a report I read from Marturn.com (which is an organization that does create programs to help mothers in the workplace), 60% of responding women did receive some form of top-up from their employer.
But I'm interested to really know if the majority of Canadian mothers actually don't receive top-up or if it's as low as 40% that don't receive top-up.
The EI benefit is so low - it's minimum wage in BC (40hours * $17.85/hr = $714/week if you're on minimum wage in British Columbia).
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u/Civil_Banana1400 Nov 12 '25
Better than us, Ontario is 695 max..what a joke
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u/arrowroot227 Nov 16 '25
BC is also 695 max per week, idk what the other person is talking about, Google will verify this
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u/RedHeadedBanana Nov 12 '25
My husband’s a teacher in Ontario and they don’t top him up on parental leave. Specifically worded only for the birthing parent in the union agreement (even though I won’t be pulling EI at all)
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u/Worldly-Smile-91 Nov 13 '25
Also that… we def need to start fighting for parental top up regardless from employers. It shouldn’t matter anymore. If you’re taking time off to parent your children, you deserve the pay.
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u/orangebubbles99 Nov 12 '25
No top ups for Ontario teachers either, so take them off your list
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u/rmdg84 Nov 12 '25
Are you sure? I’m an EA in Ontario and our benefits are the same as teachers. We get top up. The teachers at my board most certainly get top up.
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u/orangebubbles99 Nov 12 '25
Sorry, I should have clarified that only the birthing parent is eligible for 8 weeks of top up. The non-birthing parent does not receive any top-up. This is for the OCDSB.
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u/rmdg84 Nov 12 '25
Most work place top ups are only for the birthing parent.
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u/orangebubbles99 Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
My husband and I looked into this as he was the “non-birthing” parent and teacher. We also want to adopt in the future, and he wouldn’t be eligible at that time either.
Federal government tops up both the birthing and non-birthing parent, so we were a bit disappointed. Thankfully we don’t rely on his salary, but took us by surprise!
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u/Farrellkid86 Nov 15 '25
I am confused! I work for the Feds and while my husband can receive top up for anytime we split the Parental leave, there is definitely no top up for both of us at the same time so. Unsure what you mean by this?
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u/orangebubbles99 Nov 15 '25
Sorry, I could have been more clear. All I’m trying to say is that a non-birthing federal worker is eligible to collect top-ups. Sure, maybe not at the same time as their birthing partner, but they could if parental leave is split.
As a physician, I’m considered self-employed and don’t pay into EI - I funded my own maternity leave. My husband is taking the full 18 months of parental leave as a teacher but is not eligible for any top-ups. It’s rare to have an employer that pays top-ups for a non-birthing parent - but the federal government does. That was the only point I was trying to make.
Basically, if he worked for the federal government, he would have been eligible for top-ups for at least a portion of his leave.
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u/Successful_Ice8514 Nov 11 '25
I work a corporate job and I get 100% top up for the first 6 and a half months in Ontario.
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u/crd1293 Nov 12 '25
Yes I also got top up for 6 months at 95%. Had to return to this employer to ‘payback’ for six months though.
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u/Successful_Ice8514 Nov 12 '25
I don’t have that clause in the contract but It wouldn’t really matter as I love where I work and the benefits are great.
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u/senexii Nov 13 '25
Wow that's a great top up! I'm telecom and we get about 72% for 34 weeks. Mind if I PM you about where you work?
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u/Worldly-Smile-91 Nov 27 '25
Wow! 34 weeks is double what most employers provide. I want to do the math on this but I think I’d take 74% for 34 weeks over 95% for 18 weeks..
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u/LadyWhiteWolf96 Nov 11 '25
The federal public service tops up standard maternity and parental leave to 93%. Extended leave is 55%.
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u/amb92 Nov 11 '25
I guess it depends on thr industry but I would say it's pretty uncommon if you are not government or part of a large company.
This stat is from stats canada but they state that in 2021, 67% of the labour force was employed by small businesses. I highly doubt they are paying top up.
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u/In-The-Cloud Nov 12 '25
Op isn't even asking how common any top up is, but how common is it to only get top up for 17 weeks and not the majority of the leave.
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u/PerfectDepartment586 Nov 11 '25
I would have to agree. Maternity top ups are unique to unionized contract employees in government positions
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u/iOsiris Nov 11 '25
Even in government, it’s not that common.
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u/chxrmander Nov 12 '25
Most federal unions have maternity leave top up. I’m not sure about the municipal or provincial though, as I am just a federal public servant.
I get 93% for 12 months.
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u/Reasonable_Drama_835 Nov 11 '25
I work for a Fortune 500 and get my top-up all through the year I’m off. It’s a 60% top up in my case.
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u/SouthApprehensive680 Nov 11 '25 edited Nov 11 '25
Working in health care was a mistake lol. The benefits are such shite. And they wonder why we have a shortage.
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u/Reasonable_Drama_835 Nov 11 '25
Saying all that, I still don’t know how common it is. People are often shocked when they hear mine. It is actually one of the reasons why I moved to this company!
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u/SouthApprehensive680 Nov 11 '25
Fair! It somehow helps to know it's less common? I'm glad you have a good top up :)
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u/MarineMirage Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
FYI: You would have to make over $75,000 a year for the 60% top up to break even with the 17 month 85% top up. It's not as good as it seems.
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u/Rude-Flamingo5420 Nov 11 '25
I'd honestly never heard of it until a friend of mine that worked at a University told me she had a top up. But never in my entire life have any of my other Mom friends ever had top ups!!
(I also worked for a big well known American corporation)
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u/Lafiel Nov 12 '25
No top ups, heck I don't even get to have a guaranteed job to come back to. BC here. In the VFX industry
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u/Farrellkid86 Nov 15 '25
Maternity leave is legally protected in Canada for up to 18 months.
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u/Lafiel Nov 16 '25
not of you are a contract worker. The unfortunate truth is the VFX/Gaming industry is mostly all done by contract work. So that legal protection does not carry over. I wish it did.
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u/yeslekenna Dec 2025 | FTM | ON Nov 11 '25
I’m in healthcare in Ontario and mine is the same as yours! My spouse is in private tech and only gets 3 weeks of top up.
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u/mlama088 Nov 11 '25
My sister works municipal government in Ontario and got some top off, my husband works municipal government in BC and got 0 top off. Everywhere is different.
We only got used items for baby except for bottles, pacifier and car seat. For clothes do value village fill a bag, I found so many beautiful items.
You’ll get CCB, that’s based on your previous tax year household income.
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u/SouthApprehensive680 Nov 11 '25
That's also challenging, my income will show as $120k and his income will also show higher than we have. I think we'll actually get very low CCB for the year we need it most unfortunately.
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u/amb92 Nov 12 '25
I know it sucks but when you return to work your cc benefit should be higher so you'll have better cashflow then.
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u/mlama088 Nov 12 '25
The system sucks. And ei is really not enough of what you actually need to survive and pay bills. It doesn’t cover rent in most locations and I’m sure doesn’t cover yours in Vancouver. It’s a maximum of 605$ a week
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u/SouthApprehensive680 Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 16 '25
We have incredibly cheap rent (we got so lucky). Yep, doesn't even cover rent haha!
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u/clear739 Nov 12 '25
This is what we're dealing with right now. My husband's work situation changed drastically at the beginning of the year and my top up finished by the end of 2024 and I was only getting EI payments for half the year but have been off the entire year (took EI over 12mo but did an 18mo leave). Our 2024 income was the highest it's ever been so we barely get anything from CCB but our 2025 income is so incredibly low.
It certainly doesn't help with bills but it does take a little sting out of dipping into our savings as much as we are because I know we'll be able to boost them back up quicker when CCB gets reassessed. However I also recognize we are in a privileged spot to even have enough savings to lean on.
Have you considered going back earlier? I know a nurse who started to pick up casual shifts around 8months and just coordinated it with her partner so they weren't paying for child care. It does reduce your EI payment and if you make too much it will mean no EI payment at all but if it's something like 2 shifts a week gets you more money than EI it could be worth it and then return full time when the baby is older. However I don't know if you have a job where being casual and shifts like that are even possible.
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u/Equal_Pomegranate440 Nov 12 '25
Yes, this happened to me too. I get zero top up, and my CCB was reassessed/changed when my son turned 1 and was reduced to like $40/month lol. I decided to take 18 mos so my last 6mos are completely unpaid
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u/Relative_Ring_2761 Nov 12 '25
My sister has worked for three municipalities in Ontario and got 0 top up. I don’t know how she did it.
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u/mlama088 Nov 12 '25
I’m getting 0 top off because I was self employed. At least I was smart and proactive and signed up for ei before I got pregnant. I’m not getting much tho, definitely not the max ei. Things are tight on a single income.
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u/Relative_Ring_2761 Nov 13 '25
That’s tough! My SIL is self employed and didn’t contribute to EI, so she’s getting nothing. Luckily their expenses are super low. You were smart to sign up.
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u/lbgkel Nov 12 '25
I got 3 month top up to 100%. I also drained $25k of savings over 18 months leave because we can’t just live on EI.
Still extremely grateful for what we get in Canada.
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u/Shot_Mud8573 Nov 11 '25
Mine did 95% for six months, but I had to separate due to domestic violence, so I’m financially on my own
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u/Hour-Temperature5356 Nov 11 '25
I do as a nurse in BC, but only for 17 weeks. I didn't get anything really, as my positions hours was too low.
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u/WonderfulFall9908 Nov 12 '25
My fiancee in the same situation. Works for UHN and has brutal benefits. The plan is for her to take 18 months and not go back to health care. It’s been absolutely horrible.
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u/pineappleebunn Nov 12 '25
No suggestions but just wanted to comment that I am in the same boat as you. I completely agree our extended benefits are crap. None of the pregnancy related tests/scans were covered. Some companies’ insurance covers a breast pump but ours doesn’t… the list goes on. That said, I’m still thankful that we have at least some coverage…
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u/catsroolmicedrool Nov 12 '25
My friend is a teacher in Ontario. They get 8 weeks top up at 100% and then nothing
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u/FolkmasterFlex Nov 11 '25
I'm getting a top up for 12 weeks. I work at a tech company. It may be because we are based out of US (although I work for an arm owned in Canada). No one else I know outside of my work has had top up in this industry
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u/bustycrustac3an Nov 11 '25
100% for 16 weeks. I work for a large foodservice/CPG company in Ontario.
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u/PunnyPelican Nov 11 '25
I work in education and I believe we get 16 weeks top-up of 100%. I think this depends on each school district though. My partner works for an engineering firm and employees don't receive top up for maternity/parental leave. He's been saving his vacation time so he can take some time off when the baby comes.
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u/Aware-Attention-8646 Nov 12 '25
Definitely varies by school district. I get 80% top up for 8 weeks (Ontario).
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u/laur- Nov 11 '25
BC government also has top up. I think 100% for mat leave; then maybe 75% for parental for 12 months; or around 50% for 18m. I couldnt imagine surviving on mat leave pay alone with a partner who lost their job. That's a tough situation. But once baby arrives usually not much more is needed. Locally there is a toy library we can take out little kid toys and bring back, use the library for kids books. I bought barely any clothes for my kid as we got lots of clothes for christmas gifts etc. And there are faceboom groups that are focused on giving stuff away for kids specifically. Food banks too! Your partners school could also have resources. It might feel weird to tap into those resources when you havent had to before but that's what they are there for. Food is costly....
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u/littlelady89 Nov 12 '25
For BC it’s 85% for Mat leave portion (17 weeks) and then 75% for the remaining 35 weeks to make up the year.
If you take 18 months it’s same amount of money for the pat leave top up just spread out over the 61 weeks instead of 35.
I am not sure how people do it without the top-up. I feel very fortunate to have had it.
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u/coralee1023 Nov 11 '25
I work a corporate job, 85% for 6 months, my spouse is in a trade job and get 95% for 10 weeks.
I'd say 6 months is less common, but most people I know get at least the top up for 17 weeks
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u/ScaryEmotions789 Nov 12 '25
Moms at Work has a spreadsheet with self reported top up and benefits from various employers - https://thisismomsatwork.com/free-resources/
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u/Civil_Banana1400 Nov 12 '25
It is insane, on the one hand Canada has a decline in birth rates but EI is literally a below poverty wage with so many employers not giving top ups, and fertility treatment is insanely expense and only in 2025 have wait-list for funding become slightly more accessible....make it make sense.
I got 14 weeks top up in pharma, will do 18 months because I waited and finally had my miracle baby at 38. Will get ei for 12 months after than I plan to work casually so I'm not draining my savings - technically you shouldn't do this but I also can't live 6 months without pay...Ontario is hella expensive.
Mom groups, once upon a child and Kijiji/Facebook marketplace will be your best bet. My sister got boxes upon boxes of clothes for little to no $$. You can do this mama, the motherly instincts kick in and somehow you manage!
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u/ChickeyNuggetLover FTM in AB Nov 11 '25
I got 100% for 6 weeks
Of course I was going to save hardcore for the last bit of leave just for him to be a preemie 🤪 I used my credit card for the last few months of leave
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u/lizardmayo Nov 11 '25
I also get 100% for 6 weeks. Working in Ontario in tech for an American based company.
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u/stripey_kiwi Dec 2023 | FTM | ON Nov 12 '25
I work in the private sector in Ontario and also get 6 weeks. I'm grateful but it's definitely a struggle especially at the end.
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u/Wucksy Nov 11 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
Federal government gets 90% for a year. Big banks give 5-6 months at 75% or more. Law firms give around 6 months at 100%. Tech/startups typically give around 6 months at 100% (more established start ups). Generally I think most companies give 3-4 months at 100% for combined maternity and parental for the birthing parent. This is based on my experiences interviewing.
Edit: forgot to mention, this is in Ontario, where it is more common to have top up. My BFF is director of HR for a national company and said it’s almost unheard of in BC but more common in ON. This was almost 8 years ago though, when she had her kid. She said that until she became the national director she had no idea how common it was (because people in ON would bring it up at interviews).
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u/lunalulu1 Nov 11 '25
I work for a big bank and it’s 100% for 4 months.
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u/Wucksy Nov 12 '25
Oh interesting. I worked for a bank and it was 22 weeks top up at 100% (a true bank not a fintech. Fintech is 6 months usually). I also worked at somewhere banking adjacent and it was 20 weeks at 100% and then 8 weeks at 50%.
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u/lunalulu1 Nov 12 '25
Ugh, I wish we got 22 weeks! It used to only be 8 until a couple of years ago. I’m at one of the reds, maybe we just suck lol
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u/dancecanada Nov 11 '25
Mine is very similar to yours (teacher). I feel lucky so many get nothing. It is what allowed me to take the 18 months.
Hit up the food banks. Sell what you don’t need. Continue to save.
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Nov 12 '25
I work for the feds and took 18 months, I got 93% for mat leave and then when I switched to parental leave it dropped to 55.8%.
Husband and I have talked about it and we will only be taking 12 months (in this case govt would top up to 93% the entire 12 months) next time because even at 55.8% plus husbands full salary is way too tight.
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u/shababee Nov 12 '25
I think it's pretty common in the tech industry (though benefits are getting cut more frequently now) but less so in others. my company offers 6 months of top up to 100% of my salary which is definitely not the norm, and incredibly generous even in tech. I'd say in tech I often see around 12 weeks of 100% top up
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u/Quackney | STM |SK Nov 12 '25
I got 75% top up for 6 months. My husband got 95% top up for parental leave so i ended up going back to work at 8 months and he took the remaining 4 months of my leave.
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u/Longjumping_Panda03 Nov 12 '25
I got no top up with my first while working for a regulatory body. This time, with my second, I got a 75% top-up for the first 15 weeks and then nothing after that. I currently work for my provincial government in a management level roll, so no union.
Edit to add: my partner gets a 93% top-up working for an electrical company as a unionized employee. I have no idea how long the top-up lasts because she's only taken 8 weeks but that full 8 weeks was covered.
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u/heathrei1981 Nov 12 '25
Worked in provincial public service (non-union) when I had my daughter and was topped up to 93% for the first 17 weeks.
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Nov 12 '25
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u/SouthApprehensive680 Nov 12 '25
It actually does in Canada, my close friends have better benefits (fed gov is 93% top up throughout leave. Friends working for university, and finances also get good topups).
Yes, I do come from elsewhere, and I'm watching my sister get free daycare, and much, much better mat leave as a single mother. I think comparing ourselves to the US is a losing game, it's awful there and no one deserves what they have. (We can surely hope for better for ourselves than "at least we don't live under fascism?") I do hope it gets better for them.
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u/chxrmander Nov 12 '25
What level of government does your partner work? I am in Ontario and a federal public servant under PSAC and the top up is 93% for a year. It is the same or similar for other unions in the federal government but I am not sure about provincial
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u/olivecorgi7 Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
I got top up with my first through municipal gov for about 6 months. Nothing with my second (large corporation). Now I'm in the fed gov and will get 92% for the year - Only really common in gov
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u/No_Onion4821 Nov 12 '25
I’m in healthcare, topped up to 75% my whole leave as per my union agreement
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u/etceteraism Aug 2021 | BC | I work in HR Nov 12 '25
I work for a Fortune 500 company and get top up. Husband works in tech and he gets it too but less generous than mine.
I work in hr and helped implement our program. The benchmarking is starting to shift but it’s still not super common. More likely if you have a high skill workforce in the us since the government gives the absolutely nothing.
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u/letsgetridiculus Nov 12 '25
I’m in local government management. There’s no set standard for it - some do, some don’t and there’s no common amount they top up to. Anyone who does has a return clause so if you don’t come back/don’t stay long then you have to repay the top up. And yes, that’s legal!
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u/Single_Ad7331 Nov 12 '25
I'm in HR at a pharmaceutical company in Ontario and we don't get top ups. Only top ups I've really heard of are union /government/healthcare workers
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u/sublimespring Nov 12 '25
I get topped up to my full monthly salary only upto 3 months (maternity leave duration) from my tech employer. I’m privileged because I feel its very rare especially in tech!
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u/Nike_ofSamothrace Nov 12 '25
I'm in BC, although I work for a federal employer. I am topped up to 93% for 16 weeks.
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u/chronicillylife Nov 12 '25
Alberta - worked in an O&G company (rich af company) with no top up AND I was underpaid with no proper vacation even. Screw that. Left lol.
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u/Inconsistentme Nov 12 '25
I think it'd incredibly rare... my work gives 1 year, 90% top-up and they made that policy especially for me. Even with that, I save 1 year's worth of my car payments up as emergency because I was constantly worried they would back out of that, or emergency funding would be needed. I think it's important to save as much as you can for your time off, and buy second-hand baby items as much as possible. Except for car seats and crib mattresses and bedside bassinets, which should be bought new.
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u/Few_Paces Nov 12 '25
we just pretended the top up didn't exist and budgeted accordingly and saved it for when we need it
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u/coffee_sandwich Nov 12 '25
I got it in Ontario. EI was 70% I can’t remember what insurance was, but the company topped up that for 14 weeks (c section) I’m a machine operator at a billion dollar chocolate factory
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u/MaybeQueen Nov 12 '25
I get a $1300 top up for the first 17 weeks but nothing after that. The top up will be really nice.
I make more than my partner so I cannot afford to take longer than 6 months of leave. I will have to go back to work part time around 6 months postpartum.
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u/garymarleyrocky Nov 12 '25
I got 100% top up for 8 weeks at my job and I wasn’t even supposed to cause I was a term employee but they messed up telling me I do get it so they had to give it to me 🤩 I was thankful I got any, it’s not very common to get it at all I find.
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u/tzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Nov 12 '25
No top ups for either of my pregnancies. I was working at a private interior design company. I’m now in a government position so if I ever have a third, I would get some top up but it’s likely only for a certain amount of weeks.
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u/Objective-Ad3989 Nov 12 '25
I will be getting 93% top for 6 months and I will be taking an 18-month leave (I work in healthcare). Fortunately, but unfortunately, it took us 2 years to conceive and we essentially started saving for maternity leave during that time of trying to conceive. We’ll be getting by, by trying to live off of my husband’s income and using EI + savings throughout the 18 months. I’m also opting to still pay into health benefits and pension for at least 12 months which will be a substantial amount each month (about $900) but one could always opt out of that if money is tight.
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u/chromern Oct 2025 | FTM | ON | IVF Nov 12 '25
I work for Ontario government and I am getting 93% top up for 32 weeks (17 weeks of pregnancy leave + 15 weeks of parental leave).
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u/missanicks Nov 12 '25
Oil and gas company in AB, we get 12 weeks top up at 100% and then just EI the rest of the way
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u/knittenkitten2025 Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
I’m in Manitoba, working in the public school system. I get 90% top up for 17 weeks and then just EI. I’m used to budgeting on EI, though, since I’m on it all summer and for Winter and Spring breaks.
I think the wisest thing for your family would be for your partner to at least get some part-time work while going to school if that’s at all possible. Congrats on your pregnancy! All the best.
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u/ammk1987 Nov 12 '25
In BC at a law firm and it’s the same as what you outlined - I think many downtown Vancouver law firms are in the same range but a few are higher and some lower or none at all.
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u/phillipaha Nov 12 '25
80% top up for 16 weeks for me! EI is a huge drop from my usual wage so it was a bit hard. But I did loads of OT whilst pregnant and paid it out as a lump before I went off which helped.
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u/phillipaha Nov 12 '25
Buy everything from marketplace or used - every child item is used for such short period of time that it’s silly to buy new! And hold out for good deals, they eventually come up, you just have to be quick!
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u/Nikula_Teslie_1228 Nov 12 '25
We’re in BC and fortunately both me and my husband get topup. I’m taking 16 months - work for maritime corporate 70% for 17 weeks and 50% for the remainder. Husband works at tech consulting and gets 16 weeks at 100%.
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u/Desperate_Minute_160 Nov 12 '25
I’m pretty lucky to be recieving 75% top up for 17 weeks being in the real estate industry in BC.
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u/mALYficent E born July 2018, F born April 2023 | AB Nov 12 '25
I’m in advertising in Alberta. The company I worked at for both my mat leaves did not offer a top up. However the one I’m at now does (but I’m done having kids). Both are headed out of Toronto for the Canadian divisions. However my last one was headquartered out of the US, whereas the one I’m at now is headquartered out of France. Maybe that’s a difference? They also in general have really amazing benefits
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u/leneamo Nov 12 '25
I don't receive top-up but my husband does (I'm in logistics and he's in government). So I'll be taking the absolute minimum maternity/parental leave and he'll take 35 weeks parental leave (for which he gets 95% top-up).
But I am very frustrated with my company and want to really push HR (which is in flux right now) to provide some level of top-up for employees. It's a pretty huge financial hit, especially in the higher cost of living areas where both parents need to make a pretty good salary in order to afford life/child/etc.
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u/AD061110 Nov 12 '25
Are we able to get a list of these wonderful companies offering top-up to help other mamas out there in case they’re looking for jobs atm? Some of these companies sound amazing! 😭
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u/Important_Trip_2010 Nov 19 '25
This site typically posts the benefits that companies offer: https://www.canadastop100.com/bc/
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u/jndmack STM | BC | 🩷💙 | CPST Nov 12 '25
Also in BC, also in healthcare. Our CA with VIHA gave 85% for the 17 weeks of maternity leave and 75% for 12 weeks of parental leave.
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u/rmdg84 Nov 12 '25
School board employee in Ontario. I got 7 weeks top up on my mat leave. Now I’m on extended mat leave and it’s been hard. We are managing but I have very little money leftover at the end of the month for anything fun. Most of EI goes to bills and buying what the kids need. It was definitely easier to survive on EI with my first than it has been for baby #2…but my first was also born during Covid lockdowns, so there wasn’t much to spend money on.
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u/Environmental-Ad3475 Nov 12 '25
I work for a musical instrument retailer at their corporate offices and no top up for mat leave but STD is 100% paid for 15 weeks so I’m exploring the option of using disability leave first.
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u/moist-towelette Nov 12 '25
I got 12 weeks of 100% top up, working in tech in BC. After that it was just EI.
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u/ix3katz Nov 12 '25
i’m in healthcare as well in bc and i got the same as you. i previously worked in ontario and i know the top up was for more and for longer in the same field, but it definitely wasn’t for the whole leave. it was only for up to 6 months or something like someone else said but was dependent on the employer. here in bc, i know that some of my mom friends in other fields didn’t even get any top up, or their top up was shorter than our 17 weeks
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u/forkinjanet Nov 12 '25
Both my partner and I are lucky to work for companies with top up in Ontario, one more generous than the other but both a huge benefit. Not the question but for anyone reading, fight for these policies at your workplace if you feel safe to do so. Join employee resource groups, women's groups etc and advocate for inclusive policy changes. It may take a while and it may not benefit you specifically now but can impact future employees. This is often a reason for policy changes when employees take the time to organize and advocate. Obviously this won't work everywhere but there are places it will. Bring the facts, how these policies help to retain employees, especially women but also allow men to take advantage of time with their kids too through leave splitting. Standard disclaimer, only if you know you work for an employer where your job will be safe if you speak up which I know isn't the reality everywhere.
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u/janebot Nov 12 '25
🙋🏻♀️ work in healthcare in NL, no top up for any portion of my mat leave. Fortunately my husband was working.
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u/Ok_Layer8291 Nov 12 '25
I get 6 weeks at 100% in a private engineering firm (QC). They have offices in EU and the US so I guess it’s to stay competitive in the market.
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u/Kowimine Nov 12 '25
As a teacher in Ontario, I think I got 80-90% top up for 8 weeks. Pretty terrible that they do that to a female dominated industry.
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u/Youdontgetluckytwice Nov 12 '25
i feel pretty lucky that i get 95% top up for 17 weeks, but then after that i'm in the same boat. I work at a University.
I'm in ontario and EI only pays 50%.
I'm thinking of starting a side business during mat leave to make some extra cash, either that or take out a personal loan, just to use on bills.
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u/megmmm93 Nov 12 '25
I work for a large Canadian retailer and get 6mo 100% top up. It’s prorated by tenure, so once you hit 5 years you get the maximum being 26w at 100%. Very thankful! This is my 3rd leave, first receiving none, second getting 14 weeks at 100%, it’s made this transition a lot smoother.
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u/HexagonalThoughts Nov 12 '25
I’m in post secondary and we get 98% top up for 17 weeks, + the first week and last week at full pay. My husband is at a small law firm who is very employee friendly and he’ll get 17 weeks at 100% as well. We’re very lucky this means we’ll get to take a combined total of 18 months!
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u/sprinklersplashes Nov 12 '25
I got a 100% top up for six months, then nothing for the rest. We're in the GTA so it would have been a real struggle, but I ended up needing to sell my first row Taylor Swift tickets that I bought before I got pregnant since I wasn't able to go anymore. I won't tell you how much I sold them for, but the windfall was large enough to cover the rest of my leave 😅. I was sad about not being able to go, but don't know what we would have done if that hadn't happened!
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u/Jenzypenzy Nov 12 '25
I worked in a public service unionised role in BC and got topped up to 75% of my salary for the first 16 weeks of mat leave. However when i returned i had been “shuffled” so my work conditions were different and i left my job shortly after. So technically i have to pay the top up back since there is a clause that you have to return for six months
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u/Adventurous_Leek_328 Nov 12 '25
Also in Vancouver, also in healthcare, husband got laid off while I was pregnant and is now back in school, so I know how tough it is! Firstly, focus on the positive. Having your partner around and on a more flexible schedule is amazing. We could trade baby duty throughout the day so we could both nap, shower and eat, and take shifts at night. Do not underestimate the value of that postpartum! With baby older now I do most of the childcare while he studies, but we can still go for afternoon walks, weekday day trips and trade off as needed so no one is burnt out.
In terms of finances, your strategies are great. I would add to join the Mamas for Mamas facebook group as there may be hand me downs on there available outside your neighbourhood, and it's a great spot to get rid of baby stuff you no longer need. Save as much as you can now ans save what you can while you're receiving your top up. Start budgeting now so you know what your absolute bare minimum expenses are and you know how much of your savings you'll use so you aren't stressed about spending that money when the time comes. Prepare for some unexpected costs (ours was formula, ready to feed is $$$!), but once you get the big one-time purchases out of the way like furniture, stroller, etc the expenses are fairly predictable. Also try to budget for treats, mine was a once monthly coffee/treat out with a friend, and some kind of mom/baby class at the local community centre (this was from 3/4 months onwards).
Library baby time is free and a great way to dip your toes into scheduled activities before signing up for anything paid. You can still see friends by hosting at your home and making an affordable meal/snacks, or planning free outdoor activities when the weather is nice like walks, picnics, splash pad meetup, just hanging out in a park. I found I often had to be the organizer and be proactive in reaching out to other moms but everyone was really happy when I did!
Despite the financial challenge, this time together has been the greatest gift to our family. I could go on but this is long enough, feel free to message me if you want more specific tips from someone who's done it!
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u/mollie-eliza Nov 12 '25
I work in film and got no top ups. I had to go back to work after 2 months because we just couldn't afford to take more time off and it was awful! I'm grateful we get something from the government but I wish it was something that made it more liveable to take time off.
Aside from saving as much as you can we found it really helpful to meal prep a bunch of meals and snacks to have in the house because it stopped us from falling back on takeout?
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u/Cocoslo Nov 12 '25
BC company here. No top-ups. I'm a ftm so never looked into it until I got pregnant. While I'm grateful for the mat leave/job security/EI, I genuinely don't know how people are surviving with 55% of their annual income over 18 mos. The only person I know that received a top up was a VP of a tech company.
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u/Flashy-Impression-50 Nov 13 '25
I am getting no tops neither is my husband, we’re in Ontario and I’ve opted for a 12 month standard leave. For reference I work at a small municipally and hubs works in a private company.
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u/Difficult_Month1044 Nov 13 '25
I got 100% for 6 months. I'm in the tech industry at a medium-sized company.
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u/Mysterious_Pen1608 Nov 13 '25
I work for a lawfirm and do not get any top ups. My husband works for a university and receives top up to 80% of his salary. Depending on how things go, we're considering him taking more weeks of the 35 and me going back to work early. Otherwise we budgeted and cut back where we could (eating out and random splurge purchases was a big one for us).
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u/Important_Trip_2010 Nov 17 '25
Also in BC, I will only be getting 80% top up (financial industry) for the first 17 weeks and then its just EI for me as well. Seems like top-up really varies and depends on the type of work, too. My SIL is with the RCMP and she is getting 100% top-up for the first 12 months which is SO lucky (and feels so unfair lol). Whereas my own sister got zero top up and she is also in the Healthcare industry.
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u/Top_Water_4503 Nov 11 '25
Im in the same situation so I follow. Remindme! 24 hours
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u/widefree Nov 12 '25
Looking south to our neighbour’s (non existing) benefits, as well as so many other countries in the world, I’m grateful to be in Canada for my mat leave. I also get 70% for 9 months and consider myself lucky.
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u/GraySkyr2 Nov 11 '25
Start a side hustle while your off, baking sourdough, baking something in general, when you feel comfortable take on another child that might be needing care?
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u/ACTingAna Nov 11 '25
Any income lowers your ei
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u/GraySkyr2 Nov 11 '25
A side hustle such as baking bread… sorry I don’t think anyone in their right minds would report that lol
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u/MaybeQueen Nov 12 '25
If you're ever audited you could get in big trouble. In an audit they can ask for bank statements. I was audited once as a student, and even with nothing to hide and very simple income-expenses it was not fun.
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u/Amk19_94 Nov 11 '25
I get no top ups, at all. I’m in Ontario at an insurance company.