Final answer:
A pregnant employee in Ontario must be employed for at least 13 weeks before their expected delivery date to qualify for pregnancy leave under the ESA, which protects them from workplace discrimination and guarantees their job upon return.
Step-by-step explanation:
To qualify for pregnancy leave under Ontario's Employment Standards Act (ESA), a pregnant employee must be employed at their job for at least 13 weeks preceding the expected date of delivery. This provincial legislation prohibits discrimination against women in the workplace who are planning to get pregnant or who are returning to work after pregnancy. Although Ontario's ESA does not stipulate a paid leave, it does provide job protection, allowing the employee to return to the same position or a comparable one with the same earnings when they return from leave. Additionally, it aims to ensure that employers cannot penalize an employee in any way for taking pregnancy leave.
It's important to note that other countries have varying policies concerning maternity leave, as exemplified by Norway where maternity leave can include up to a year of paid leave. These international examples indicate the diverse approaches to parental support globally, with some nations providing more substantive financial compensation to support new parents during their leave.