How many days of leave do I get for a death in my family?

Verified 31 July 2026 Law of Quebec and Canada General information, not legal advice

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Short answer

In Quebec, the death or funeral of a spouse, a child, the spouse's child, a father, a mother, a brother or a sister gives the right to 5 days of absence, the first 2 of which are paid (s. 80 of the Act respecting labour standards).

In detail

For the death or funeral of a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, a grandparent, a grandchild, or the spouse's father, mother, brother or sister, the Act provides for one day of absence without pay (s. 80.1).

Special rules apply where a minor child dies, where a spouse or a child dies by suicide, or where a minor child goes missing: the period of absence allowed is then much longer and can reach 104 weeks.

The employee must notify the employer as soon as possible. A collective agreement or a company policy may provide for more.

What to document

The date of the death and the date of the funeral, the family relationship, the days of absence you took, the notice you gave the employer and its date, and the pay stub showing the paid days. These simple elements are enough to establish the entitlement.

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How many days of leave do I get for a death in my family?

In detail

What to document

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