New rules take effect Wednesday limiting when employers can ask for sick notes from health professionals for short-term absences.
Employers can’t ask for a sick note for a worker’s first two health-related absences in a year, as long as they span five days or less.
The rules were first announced in April, when the B.C. government said they would be in place ahead of the fall respiratory virus season.
The province said the changes will help free up time for health professionals to spend more time with patients.
“When you’re sick with the flu, or your child comes down with a cold, the last thing you should have to do is go to your doctor or a medical clinic to get a piece of paper saying you’re sick,” said Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside in a statement. “Unnecessary medical appointments take time away from patients who need to see their doctors and nurses, don’t help people get better any faster and risk further spread of illness.”
The rules apply to sick notes from a range of health professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, midwives and mental health professionals.
The Canadian Medical Association estimates B.C. doctors wrote approximately 1.6 million sick notes in 2024.
“Sick notes for short-term illness put an enormous burden on physicians and other primary care providers,” said Dr. Lisa Gaede, a family physician and representative for Doctors of BC. “Setting limits on employers who require these notes means that someone with a cold can stay home from work and rest, and I can be more available for patients who need my help.”
Workers in B.C. who have been with an employer for at least 90 days are entitled to five days of paid sick leave and three days of unpaid leave.
Employers are still entitled to request “reasonably sufficient proof” that an absence is related to illness or injury. That can include documentation like a pharmacy receipt or a hospital medical bracelet.
Doctors of B.C. said in a submission to the province in June that the updated rules should also prohibit employers from requiring a sick note in cases where employees are caring for a family member.
The Ministry of Labour confirmed to Vista News that an employer cannot demand a sick note from a health care professional from an employee who takes a short-term leave related to the health of an immediate family member.
The doctor’s advocacy group also noted that many organizations that fall outside the Employment Standards Act, like recreational clubs, may require sick notes to support making up a class or session. It said such requests for sick notes continue to add an unnecessary burden on the health care system.
