Bill 10: The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act (Attachment Leave for Adoption and Surrogacy)

This bill affects employers of all sizes across Manitoba in every industry — from a small restaurant with a handful of staff to a larger construction firm or retail chain. If any employee has been with the same employer for at least seven consecutive months and is adopting a child or welcoming one via surrogacy, they now have a protected right to take up to 16 weeks off, unpaid. Employers will need to manage scheduling and coverage around this leave, process the required written notices, and potentially hold open positions during the absence. Businesses with lean teams or hard-to-replace roles — like a two-person accounting office or a small trades operation — may feel the staffing gap most acutely.