5 Employee Benefits to Look Forward to in Canada

Every year thousands of Canada work visas are issued to workers of all skill levels from across the globe. What makes Canada such a popular place for people looking for new work opportunities?

Besides the abundance of jobs in nearly every industry, working in Canada comes with a great paycheck and amazing employee benefits too.

From paid maternity and paternity leave to employment insurance and extended health care, Canada offers its employees some of the most amazing benefits.

Fast Navigation

• 1. Job Security

• 2. Paid Sick Leave

• 3. Family & Caregiving Benefits

• 4. Pension

• 5. Work-life Balance

• 6. How to Get a Canada Work Permit in 2022

Ready to find out more about the top five work benefits waiting for you in Canada?

5 Perks of Working in Canada

1. Job Security

One of the most important benefits of being employed in Canada is that you’ll have access to Employment Insurance (EI). This is a standard benefit for all workers in Canada. Having EI means that you’ll be entitled to certain financial benefits if you lose your job due to reasons that are out of your control.

For example, if there aren’t many jobs available, and you lose your job because of mass-layoffs, you will be able to claim EI benefits. These may differ depending on your occupation or the industry you work in.

If you qualify for EI, you could get up to 55 percent of your average insurable weekly earnings. The maximum you could get is $60,300 or $638 per week for a period of anywhere between 14 and 45 weeks.

In general you will need to meet the following requirements to be considered eligible to apply for EI:

• If you were employed in insurable employment;
• If you lost your job and it wasn’t your fault;
• If your job is affected by natural disasters like flooding or wildfires;
• If you’ve been unemployed and haven’t received pay for a minimum of 7 consecutive days in the past 52 weeks;
• If you’ve worked your required number of insurable work hours in the past 52 weeks or since your last EI claim started (whichever is shorter);
• If you can and want to work every day;
• If you are actively looking for employment and have proof thereof.

If you and your partner or spouse have a combined income less than $25,921 per year, get the Canada Child Benefit, and have one or more children younger than 18, you may be eligible for EI Family supplement too!

2. Paid Sick Leave

Did you know that in most cases you will be covered financially if you have to take sick leave in Canada? Some companies provide their employees with sick or short-term disability cover. If your employer doesn’t have a sick or disability plan, the Government offers a standard Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. This means that you won’t have to worry about your finances while you’re on sick leave.

You could claim sick benefits for up to 15 weeks and get as much as 55 percent of your salary or $638 per week if you can't work for medical reasons, like illness, injury, quarantine or any medical condition that prevents you from being able to work.

To qualify for the EI Sickness Benefit, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• If you can’t work for medical reasons;
• If your usual work pay (per week) has decreased by more than 40 percent for a minimum of a week; and
• If you’ve accumulated 420 insurable work hours in the previous 52 weeks before the beginning of your current or previous claim.

It’s important to note that you’ll need a medical certificate to be able to claim EI Sickness benefits.

Already Curious? See If You Qualify Today!

3. Family & Caregiving Benefits

While working in Canada, you’ll have access to financial support that will allow you to take care of your loved ones if they’re injured or sick. You’ll also be able to take time off while you’re pregnant and spend time with your child after birth or adoption, without having to worry about income.

Maternity and Paternity Benefits

There are two types of parental benefits that are available to birthing and non-birthing parents. Below is an overview of the two types: standard and external.

Maternity and Paternity Benefits
Benefit name	Maximum weeks	Benefit rate	Weekly max
Maternity* (for the person giving birth)	up to 15 weeks	55%	up to $638
Standard parental	up to 40 weeks, but one parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks of standard benefits	55%	up to $638
Extended parental	up to 69 weeks, but one parent cannot receive more than 61 weeks of extended benefits	33%	up to $383

To qualify for maternity and/or paternity benefits, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

• Be pregnant or have given birth recently;
• Be a parent looking after your newborn or newly adopted child;
• Your usual work pay (per week) has decreased by more than 40 percent for a minimum of a week; and
• If you’ve accumulated 420 insurable work hours in the previous 52 weeks before the beginning of your current or previous claim.

Caregiving Benefits

You may be eligible for this caregiving employee benefits if you have to care for a loved one and are not able to work. You can apply for this benefit, even if you are not legally family, however you will need a letter of attestation from a legal representation saying that you are “considered family”.

Canada offers it workers 3 different types of caregiving benefits:

1. Family Caregiver Benefit For Children;
2. Family Caregiver Benefit For Adults;
3. Compassionate Care Benefits.

If you qualify for caregiver benefits you have access to up to 55 percent of your income for up to 55 weeks.

there are three different types of Caregiving Benefits:

The 3 Types Of Caregiving Benefits
Benefit name	Maximum Weeks Payable	Who You're Providing Care To
Family Caregiver Benefit For Children	Up To 35 Weeks	A Critically Ill Or Injured Person Under 18
Family Caregiver Benefit For Adults	Up To 15 Weeks	A Critically Ill Or Injured Person 18 Or Over
Compassionate Care Benefits	Up To 26 Weeks	A Person Of Any Age Who Requires End-Of-Life Care

To qualify for this benefit, you must meet the following requirements:

• You’re a family member or considered “family” of someone who is critically ill or injured or needing end-of-life care;
• Your usual work pay (per week) has decreased by more than 40 percent for a minimum of a week because you need to take time off work to care or support someone;
• If you’ve accumulated 420 insurable work hours in the previous 52 weeks before the beginning of your current or previous claim; and
• If you have certification from a medical doctor or nurse practitioner to care for or support a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care

4. Pension

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a standard work benefit put in place to make sure that those over the age of 60 will be able to retire without worrying about money. When you retire you will have access to a portion of your income for the rest of your life, as long as you’ve made at least one valid contribution.

The average maximum amount that pensioners get if they apply at 65 is about $1,253.59 per year or $702.77 per month.

there are also various other benefit that you may qualify for under the CCP:

• Post-retirement benefit
• Disability pension
• Post-retirement disability benefit
• Survivor's pension
• Children's benefit
• Death benefit

5. Work-life Balance

Canada is known to offer extra employee benefits to ensure that they are satisfied in their work environment. According to the World Population Review, Canada was ranked 14th out 149 countries in the world for overall happiness. In terms of work satisfaction, about 90% of Canadians employees claim to be content at work. This is quite amazing considering that the global average is 65 percent.

Most employees go the extra mile when it comes to making their workers happy. Some added perks that you could look forward to when working Canada are:

Additional healthcare benefits;
• Flexible working hours;
• Extra holiday allowance;
• Gym memberships;
• Charity days;
• Training and development;
• Childcare facilities;
• Choosing your own benefits.

Ready to start reaping these benefits and start working in Canada? If you aren’t a permanent resident or citizen, you’ll need a Canada work permit.

How to Get a Canada Work Permit in 2022

Step 1: See if you qualify

To qualify for a Canada work visa you’ll need to meet certain requirements, depending on where you are applying from, however these are the standard requirements that must be met to get a work permit:

• Have proof that you’ll leave Canada when your work permit expires;
• Have proof of enough money for your stay in Canada and to get home;
• Have proof a clear criminal record;
• Not endanger Canada’s security;
• Have a medical exam showing you are in good health;
• Work for an eligible employer

Step 2: Complete your application

Once you know that you qualify you can start the online application process. Applying online is recommended as it is not only cheaper but quicker too. You will get an instruction guide to help you complete your application based on which country you’re applying from. You will need a scanner or camera and a valid credit or debit card to complete your application. If you don’t already have them, you’ll need biometrics, which consists of a digital photo and your finger prints.

Step 3: Pay your fees and await your results

Once you’ve completed your application you will need to pay your visa fee in order for it to be processed. You may be asked to have an interview with an official in your country or to send extra supporting documents. Once your work permit is approved it will state:

• the kind of work you are allowed to do;
• Who you can work for in Canada;
• Where you can work in Canada; and
• The length of time you permitted to work for in Canada.

For a more in depth look at the application process, take a look at these 6 Simple Steps to Apply for a Canadian Work Permit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Employee Benefits in Canada’s

1. What are standard employee benefits in Canada?

By law Canada covers employee benefits like, employment insurance, paid sick leave, family and caregiving benefits, and pension. Other additional employee benefits include: 

•  Additional healthcare to cover procedure that Medicare doesn't cover, like prescription medication , dental care and eye care 
• Voluntary or flexible benefits like gym memberships 
• Child Care centres or daycare facilities

2. What could make me ineligible for Employment Insurance Employee Benefits in Canada?

If any of the following applies to your situation, you may not be able to apply for Employment insurance (EI) benefits in Canada:

• You left or quit your job without a just reason;
• You lost your jobs or were dismissed for misconduct;
• You were unemployed because taking part in a labour dispute, like a strike, lockout or other type of conflict;

3. Can I claim Employment Insurance Employee Benefits in Canada if I quit my job?

You may not be eligible for EI benefits if you lose or quit your job because you didn’t follow your employer’s compulsory COVID-19 vaccination policy. You will also have four week to submit your claim from the first day of unemployment otherwise you may risk losing your EI benefits.

Ready to start your Canada work permit application?

Get Your Eligibility Check Today!