Many people from across the world are drawn to Canada with the promise of quality employment for good pay. And while it's true that Canada has a diverse range of employment options available to its permanent residents, the pay and experience aren't the only benefits offered to Canadian workers. Here, our Ottawa and Orleans immigration doctors explain some of the extra employee benefits to look forward to in Canada.
Canada has a reputation for being an excellent place to live and work with high-paying jobs that encourage employee growth and success. And this is well-deserved, Canada has a diverse range of industries that operate within its borders and plenty of opportunities for permanent residents not only to succeed in their jobs, but to seek employment to better themselves and earn more.
However, the diversity of roles available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents arent the only things to look forward to when you move to Canada as a permanent resident. There are also a number of legal and optional benefits available to people employed within Canada that are worth considering when weighing not only whether or not you would like to live and work in the country, but what job you would like to have once you arrive.
The Benefits of Working in Canada
The following are 4 of the benefits available to Canadian permanent residents and citizens who live and work in Canada:
1. Employment Insurance
Canada is committed to supporting the people that live nd work in it when they need it most. One of the examples of this is the Employment Insurance program offered across the country.
A small amount is deducted from the paychecks of employees and contributed by their employer towards this program. By doing so, they make their employees eligible for Employment Insurance if they lose their job by no fault of their own - allowing them to receive financial support from the Canadian government while they are without a job as long as they fulfill one or more the following conditions:
- You were employed in insurable employment
- You lost your job by no fault of your own;
- Your job is affected by natural disasters like flooding or wildfires;
- You’ve been unemployed and haven’t received pay for a minimum of 7 consecutive days in the past 52 weeks;
- 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);
- You can and want to work every day;
- You are actively looking for employment and have proof that you are
Employment Insurance is designed to give stability to Canadian residents while they secure new employment, paying up to 55% of your previous earnings (to a maximum of $638 per week) for up to 45 weeks.
So worry not! If you lose your initial employment after moving to Canada, there is a support system in place to assist you in securing future employment.
2. Parental Leave Benefits
If you have recent had a child born or adopted a child, you will likely need some extra time in your day to care for the baby! If you are your partner is unable to work during this time, one or both of you will be eligible for parental leave benefits.
To qualify for parental benefits in order to care for your child after they have been born or adopted, you must fulfill one or more of 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
- If you’ve accumulated 420 insurable work hours in the previous 52 weeks before the beginning of your current or previous claim
For parental leave, you and your co-parent will be entitled to up to 40 weeks of paid leave divided between the two of you as you see if (up to 55% of your previous salary, similarly to EI).
3. Caregiving Leave Benefits
When a major life change such as illness or injury occurs with someones close to you, they may need extra help and attention at the expense of your employment. In cases like this, Canada has benefits for full-time caregivers who have to forgo employment.
When it comes to caregiving benefits, there are 3 different kinds available:
- Family Caregiver Benefit For Children
- Family Caregiver Benefit For Adults
- Compassionate Care Benefits
Each of these cover different situations where you may need to forgo employment to become a caregiver for an ill or injured family member or close individual.
In order to qualify for any of the above benefits, you will need to fulfill the following criteria:
- You’re a family member or considered “family” of someone who is critically il, injured or is in need of 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 to support this individual
- If you’ve accumulated 420 insurable work hours in the previous 52 weeks before the beginning of your current or previous claim
- If you have certification from a doctor or nurse to care for an ill or injured person
4. Additional Healthcare Benefits
While the above 3 examples of the benefits of working in Canada actually have to do with stability while you aren't able to work, this is something that will benefit you directly while you are working.
Canada is famous for it's basic universal healthcare plan. And while this is able to cover the costs of doctor visits, emergency medical treatments and some diagnostic like MRI or X-rays, anything beyond these basic healthcare services come at a cost. That means that healthcare such as dental services, vision care, physical therapy, and psychiatry may all come at a cost.
Luckily, it has become expected for employers to provide their full-time employees with group insurance plans that help to cover the costs of these additional medical services. The scope of these services can widely carry depending on the employer, but nearly 90% of all Canadian employers report offering these kinds of healthcare plans for full-time employees.
And while certain benefits such as vacation and sick days are mandated by the federal and provincial governments, many employers try to create more attractive positions by offering more vacation days and paid sick days than the mandated minimums.
Many workers in Canada report that these health benefits are critical to in helping them to make their decision about a prospective employer. So, when considering an employer in Canada, keep an eye out for these benefits and make sure to ask questions about the benefits they offer their employees.
