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Maternity and Parental Leaves

Being a parent is one of the most important roles you’ll have in life. BMO supports you by providing time off to recover, care for, and bond with your newest family member.
Here’s a high-level overview of Maternity and Parental Leaves. For details, review Your Guide to Maternity Leave and Your Guide to Parental Leave.
Features Maternity Leave Parental Leave
Who Can Take Leave Birth mothers are eligible to take a total of 24 weeks of Maternity Leave when a new child arrives. Fathers, same gender partners and adoptive parents are eligible to take a total of 24 weeks of Parental Leave when a new child arrives.
Initiating Leave To initiate a Maternity or Parental Leave, notify your supervisor then contact Matrix Absence Management to file a claim: You’ll receive an Absence Packet within 24 hours of requesting leave. For details, review How to File a Leave of Absence or Disability Claim.

Your pay may be interrupted if you do not promptly report the onset of your leave.

Pay While on Leave

First 16 weeks—You are eligible to receive 100% pay continuation, for up to 16 weeks.

Second 8 weeks—You can take an additional 8 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. If you choose to take additional unpaid time, you can supplement your pay using sick or vacation time, if available.

Paid Maternity/Parental Leave runs concurrently with FML.

Benefits Coverage

First 16 weeks—Your benefits coverage will continue. Premiums will continue to be deducted from your pay.

Second 8 weeks—Your benefits coverage will continue and you will owe premiums. Your premiums will accumulate in arrears. When you return from leave, your regular deductions will resume and any arrears will be collected at a rate of one additional deduction per pay until your balance is zero.

Backup childcare program

BMO offers 10 days of paid backup childcare per year. To take advantage of this valuable program, register with Bright Horizons (employer ID: bmofg; pwd: backup).

Your incentive pay

If, during the Incentive Pay plan year, you are on a paid or unpaid leave of absence, any allocated incentive award will be prorated based on actual time worked.