The Code says an employee can take an unpaid leave for up to 5 days (in a calendar year) if the leave is necessary: for the health of the employee, or for the employee to meet their family responsibilities to a family member. You must give your employer as much notice as possible before taking this leave. A family member includes: employee's spouse employee's common-law partner (living together for at least one year) employee's adult interdependent partner employee's child (or child of employee's spouse or common-law partner) employee's parent child of the employee's parent (i.e. the employee's sibling) employee's grandparent employee's grandchild employee's foster parent (current or former) employee's foster child (current or former) employee's ward (current or former) employee's guardian (current or former) any other person living with the employee as a member of the employee's family COVID-19 Changes An employee can take an unpaid leave for the period of time necessary to meet their family responsibilities to: a family member who is under quarantine a child who cannot go to school or childcare due to directions from the Chief Medical Officer An employee must still give as much notice as possible to their employer. An employer can request the employee provide reasonable verification of the employee's entitlement to the leave as soon as possible. An employee does not have to provide a medical certificate as verification, it can be something else. Last Reviewed: November 2020