Retirement, investment and protection firm Canada Life has introduced additional time off for life events and emergency back-up care.
As of 1 January, employees can take up to 10 days of extra paid leave a year under the firm’s ‘Being There’ leave policy. This will allow them to be present at important events such as their wedding day, a graduation, a child’s sports day, first day at school or moving to university, or welcoming a new grandchild.
It has also been designed to help employees in situations such as taking a loved one or pet to a medical appointment, helping a family member with a difficult life event, or for emergency childcare when other arrangements fall through.
In addition, employees can now access an employer-funded back-up care benefit, provided by Bright Horizons. This provides staff with up to five days of emergency care to support last-minute caring needs for children, adults or pets when planned arrangements change or the unexpected happens.
Nick Harding, chief people officer at Canada Life, said: “We believe that creating a flexible, compassionate workplace is essential to helping our employees be at their best and deliver for our customers. The boundaries between work, family, and retirement are shifting as people live and work for longer.
“Supporting loved ones during important life moments, or caring for family members, is a significant part of many of our employees’ lives. The introduction of Being There leave and back-up care reflects our ambition to help our employees balance these responsibilities with work, and to foster an environment that supports work-life balance through different stages of life.”
In 2025, Canada Life increased paid holiday to 30 days, maternity leave to 26 weeks, paternity and partner leave to 16 weeks, and introduced 10 days of paid fertility treatment leave for employees and partners, as well as additional time off for employees who experience pregnancy loss.
