New employment standards regulations introduced by the provincial government limit when employers can require sick notes, effective immediately. Doctors of BC welcomes the new rules, having advocated for over a decade to eliminate routine sick notes, highlighting the significant administrative burden they place on physicians.

The new regulations reflect concerns raised by physicians during consultation with Doctors of BC and outlined in a submission to the Ministry of Labour earlier this year. These include:

  • Applying the sick note restriction to all 22 health professions designated under the Health Professions Act, as simply removing the requirement for doctors risked shifting the burden to other health professions.
  • Setting the threshold for a short-term absence from work at five or fewer days, as most minor illnesses and injuries resolve themselves within a week.
  • Applying the sick note restriction to employee absences for the care of an immediate family member during a short-term absence, as family caregivers are key partners in health care delivery.

“Doctors of BC has been advocating and working directly with the government on the elimination of routine sick notes, so we are pleased to see today’s announcement,” says Doctors of BC president, Dr Charlene Lui. “Providing routine sick notes reduces the time doctors can dedicate to patients who require treatment. It’s an additional administrative burden, and it increases the risk of spreading communicable diseases when ill patients are forced to leave their homes.”

The new rules will significantly reduce the administrative burden on physicians; however, not all routine sick note requirements are covered by the Employment Standards Act. Many businesses, such as recreational clubs, still require routine sick notes for individuals to be eligible for make-up classes or sessions, and this remains an area that has yet to be addressed.

Visit the Ministry of Labour’s website for additional information about the new regulations. Please contact the Advocacy team at Doctors of BC (advocacy@doctorsofbc.ca) if you have any questions.