Maternity Leave Survey, 1985 [Canada]

The Maternity Leave Survey 1985 was conducted by Statistics Canada with the cooperation and support of Employment and Immigration Canada. Respondents from five of the six rotation groups of the Labour Force Survey were interviewed in February 1985. These respondents were given a supplementary survey called the Absence From Work Survey. This survey asked paid workers about absences from work lasting two weeks or longer; anyone having such an absence was asked detailed questions about their last two such absences. Respondents who said one of these last two absences was due to pregnancy were given an additional supplementary survey called the Maternity Leave Survey. This survey was undertaken in an attempt to find out more about: 1) how the work patterns of pregnant women have been affected; 2) how adequate the income support systems for women are (private and public) both before and after the birth of their child. Have these women experienced any difficulties in returning to work afterwards For women who have chosen not to return to the workforce, what are the reasons for their choice The Absence From Work Survey was designed to produce very specific estimates to be used for policy purposes by Employment and Immigration Canada. Other users of this and the Maternity Leave Survey data should be very careful in the interpretation of their estimates. The Maternity Leave Survey will not estimate the number of female paid workers on maternity leave during 1984. It will only estimate the number of female paid workers whose last absence or last two absences (of two weeks or more) from work include done due to pregnancy.