Bereavement leave in Alberta gives employees up to 3 days of job-protected leave per calendar year after the death of a family member or a pregnancy loss. Employees qualify after 90 days with the same employer, and the leave is unpaid unless an employment contract or collective agreement says otherwise.
I've taken this from Alberta's own bereavement leave page, read in October 2026. The detail that surprises most people is that the 3 days are per calendar year, not per death. So two bereavements in the same year share the same 3 days.
Alberta bereavement leave at a glance
| Rule | Alberta Employment Standards |
|---|---|
| Length | Up to 3 days per calendar year |
| Per death or per year | Per calendar year, not per incident |
| Eligibility | At least 90 days with the same employer |
| Paid? | No, unless a contract or collective agreement says so |
| Proof required by law? | No |
| Unused days | Not carried over, and not paid out if employment ends |
Who counts as family
Alberta's list is broad, and it covers extended family, not just immediate family. Bereavement leave can be taken after the death of:
- A spouse, adult interdependent partner or common-law partner.
- A child, stepchild, or current or former foster child, and their partner or spouse.
- A parent, step-parent, or current or former guardian, and their partner or spouse.
- A sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling, and their partner or spouse.
- A grandchild or step-grandchild, and their partner or spouse.
- An aunt, uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle, and their partner or spouse.
- A niece or nephew, and their partner or spouse.
- A person the employee isn't related to but considers to be like a close relative.
Family members of the employee's spouse, common-law partner or adult interdependent partner are covered too. The close relative category matters in practice: it means an employer can't refuse leave just because the person who died wasn't a blood relative.
Pregnancy loss
Alberta includes pregnancy loss, meaning any situation where a pregnancy ends other than in a live birth. Bereavement leave can be taken by the person who was pregnant, their spouse or common-law partner, and any other person who would have been a parent as a result of the pregnancy, for example adoptive or surrogate parents. If the loss happens within 16 weeks of the estimated due date, the person who was pregnant may also be eligible for maternity leave, which I cover in my Alberta maternity leave guide.
Notice, proof and pay
- Tell your employer as soon as is reasonable before taking the leave.
- You don't need a medical certificate or other documentation, because the legislation doesn't require one.
- Expect the time to be unpaid, unless your contract or collective agreement says otherwise.
- Take up to 3 days in the calendar year. Unused days don't carry over.
- Return to the same or an equivalent job, which your employer must give you.
You're treated as continuously employed while on leave, so it doesn't break your years of service.
Job protection
An employer can't terminate or lay off an employee for requesting bereavement leave or while they're on it. An employee who thinks they've been dismissed for taking leave can make an employment standards complaint, while still employed or up to 6 months after their last day of work.
A worked scenario
Say an employee with a year's service loses a grandparent in March and takes 2 days of bereavement leave. In October, an uncle dies. Under Alberta's rules they have 1 day of bereavement leave left for the rest of that calendar year, because the 3 days are shared across the year. On 1 January the full 3 days are available again. For the October loss, the employee might also use other leave, such as personal and family responsibility leave, which I cover in my Alberta sick leave guide, or holiday by agreement.
Employees with under 90 days
Someone with less than 90 days of service can still be given bereavement leave, but employment standards don't require the employer to grant it. For new starters, that makes this a policy decision. Many employers choose to grant it anyway, and I'd recommend writing that into your handbook so managers don't make it up case by case.
How Alberta compares
| Province | Bereavement leave | Service needed |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Up to 3 unpaid days per calendar year | 90 days |
| British Columbia | Up to 3 unpaid days on the death of an immediate family member | No minimum in most cases |
Alberta's leave is per year with a 90-day wait but a much wider family list. British Columbia's is per death with no service requirement but a narrower definition of family. My bereavement leave guide covers the UK, the US, Australia and Ontario.
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For employers writing a policy
- State the 3-day yearly entitlement and the 90-day rule.
- List who counts as family, using the province's wording.
- Say whether you'll pay any of it, since the law doesn't require pay.
- Don't ask for proof the law doesn't require.
- Consider granting leave to staff with under 90 days.
Bereavement leave sits alongside Alberta's other job-protected leaves, which my Alberta employment standards guide lists.
My verdict
Alberta's bereavement leave is short and unpaid, but the family list is generous and it includes pregnancy loss. The two things to remember are that the 3 days are per calendar year, and that new employees under 90 days aren't covered by law. A good employer will fill both gaps in its own policy.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of bereavement leave do you get in Alberta?
Up to 3 days per calendar year, not per death.
Is bereavement leave paid in Alberta?
No. Employers aren't required to pay wages or benefits during the leave unless a contract or collective agreement says so.
Who is eligible for bereavement leave in Alberta?
Employees who've worked at least 90 days for the same employer and have lost a family member or had a pregnancy loss.
Do I need proof for bereavement leave in Alberta?
No. The legislation doesn't require a medical certificate or other documentation.
Does bereavement leave in Alberta cover pregnancy loss?
Yes. It covers the person who was pregnant, their partner and other intended parents.
Do unused bereavement days carry over in Alberta?
No. Unused days don't carry over to a new year and don't have to be paid out when employment ends.
