National Capital Region's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 17
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NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2026)
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to 52 weeks, maternity and
parental leave top-up
21
weeks, adoption leave
top-up pay
20
paid sick days
$
2,000
(max) related and unrelated
tuition subsidies
an unpaid leave of absence up to
24 months or a self-funded and
deferred leave of up to 12 months.
Wilson describes her maternity
leaves as a time when she
felt “truly supported” by her
employer — a reassurance that
Carleton University has a strong focus on health and well-being, encouraging employees to take advantage of
its lunch and learn workshops and wellness challenges.
meant everything during a major
life transition. Her second leave
came after the federal government
introduced the extended 18month option, and she chose to
take it. The decision, she admits,
was far from easy.
“As a woman at that stage of
life, it was so important to have
that time with my kids because I
would never get it back,” she says.
“But coming back to work can be
quite scary — you’ve been away
for so long.”
Empowering our community to
CHALLENGE
what’s possible
Despite the uncertainty, Wilson
says the support she received
made all the difference. “I felt
supported the whole time —
from the university, from human
resources, from my boss at the
time. I feel very fortunate.”
