Sick Notes: B.C. Employment Standards Changes
New B.C. Employment Standards regulation puts limits on doctor’s note requests
In 2024, the Canadian Medical Association estimates that B.C. doctors wrote 1.6 million sick notes—a significant drain on an already strained medical system. At the recommendation of the Canadian Medical Association and Doctors of BC, the Government of British Columbia today announced new changes to BC Employment Standards.
What has changed
B.C. employers can no longer request sick notes for a worker’s first two health-related, short-term absences of five consecutive days or fewer in a calendar year.
Where the new regulation applies
Effective November 12, 2025, the new regulations set a minimum standard and apply to all employees covered by the Employment Standards Act. This may require policy changes for many employers.
Health-related absences, as defined in the act, include when an employee or a member of their immediate family is sick or injured.
The rationale
- Reduced administrative burden on medical professionals. The change is intended to free doctors and medical professionals from unnecessary administrative burden so they can focus on patient care. Citing scientific evidence provided by health-care providers that symptoms of most minor illnesses, such as colds or flu, typically resolve within five days, Minister of Labour Jennifer Whiteside, noted, “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.”
- Reduced spread of illness at work—and reduced stress for sick workers. “No one should have to choose between their health and their job,” added Minister of Health Josie Osborne. She commented that the new rules will help prevent the spread of illnesses in our workplaces by encouraging people to “stay home to recover…without the added stress of getting a sick note.” The government statement notes that eliminating the need to provide a sick note for these common short-term illnesses also “alleviates workers of the extra time and out-of-pocket costs associated with getting a note, including transportation and child care.”
