If I apply for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits, do I have to quit my job?

No. In Alberta, most workers are entitled to sixteen weeks of job-protected leave for medical reasons. This means that you cannot be terminated for taking time off to recover or heal from illness or injury, including physical or mental illness or injury. If you have applied for EI sickness benefits, you should not quit your job. if your employer has asked you to quit or has fired you because of medical leave, the Workers’ Resource Centre can help: