Compassionate care leave and benefits were introduced in 2003/04 to help employees cope with this difficult work-life balance challenge. Employment Standards legislation and the Employment Insurance program (EI) were amended to provide leave without pay, with payment of EI benefits for compassionate care leave. Collective agreements have been renegotiated to provide access to compassionate care leave and, sometimes, to supplement compassionate care benefits. In the spring of 2015, the federal government announced in its 2015/16 budget measures to expand compassionate care leave and benefits. The purpose of this briefing note is to provide background and details on recent changes to compassionate care leave and benefits to assist the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUTs) member associations in renegotiating compassionate care leave provisions and benefits.