Feeling sick is tough enough without worrying about work. When illness strikes, the last thing you want is to stress over whether you need to go and get a doctor’s note. Understanding your rights and what’s expected can ease your mind and help you focus on getting better.
Understanding sick day rules in British Columbia
Rules around sick days and doctors’ notes vary across federal and provincial jurisdictions. Generally, BC employers can ask for a doctor’s note or other “reasonably sufficient proof” of illness if you use paid or unpaid job-protected sick days.
However, this isn’t always the case, and some workplaces may have different policies. It’s essential to check your company’s specific guidelines or speak with your HR department to know what’s required.
Recent and coming changes in sick leave policies
In a recent move to support workers, the BC government announced Bill 11, which proposes to make changes to the Employment Standards Act in connection with proof of illness for statutory sick leaves.
Under the proposed amendments, employers would generally no longer be able to request, and employees would not be required to provide, a doctor’s note for short-term illnesses. Certain details of the amendments remain outstanding and would be established by subsequent regulation, including how to define “short-term” and the circumstances in which an employer would be allowed to request a formal sick note. The BC government’s intention in introducing this amendment is to ease the administrative burden on our healthcare system.
As of the date of this blog, Bill 11 is at First Reading and may yet be amended throughout the legislative process. However, if the amendments are made, these changes are expected to take effect in 2026.
Common challenges for sick workers
Even with these rules, some workers still face problems when they’re ill. Some bosses might:
- Pressure employees to work while sick
- Ask for unnecessary doctor’s notes
- Punish employees for taking sick days
Each employee has rights as a worker. Being sick doesn’t take those away. If an employer is treating you unfairly because of illness, you can seek advice from an employment lawyer to protect your rights. Similarly, employers with questions about what can and cannot be requested to confirm an employee’s right to be off work should seek timely advice before taking steps that may cause trouble down the road.
Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed
