Sick Note Restrictions

This opportunity for engagement is now closed. Thank you to all who participated. Your feedback will help inform our recommendations to government on regulation of sick note restrictions.

The BC government is seeking stakeholder feedback on proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act that aims to prohibit employers from requiring employees to provide a sick note for short-term absences from work.

Doctors of BC has long advocated for restricting sick notes — one of many identified administrative burdens — to allow physicians to better direct their time to patient care. To inform our feedback to the government, we need your input on:

  • Whether the sick note restriction should apply to other health care professions, beyond physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses.
  • The scope of the restriction on sick notes, including duration and/or frequency of an absence.
  • The scientific evidence available to help define the appropriate threshold for when a sick note may be required for an illness or injury.
  • Whether the restrictions should apply to absences due to care or health of an individual in an employee’s care.

Take our survey below and help guide the development of regulations that will set out the details of the restrictions on sick notes.

This opportunity for input closes June 6, 2025.

The BC government is seeking stakeholder feedback on proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act that aims to prohibit employers from requiring employees to provide a sick note for short-term absences from work.

Doctors of BC has long advocated for restricting sick notes — one of many identified administrative burdens — to allow physicians to better direct their time to patient care. To inform our feedback to the government, we need your input on:

  • Whether the sick note restriction should apply to other health care professions, beyond physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses.
  • The scope of the restriction on sick notes, including duration and/or frequency of an absence.
  • The scientific evidence available to help define the appropriate threshold for when a sick note may be required for an illness or injury.
  • Whether the restrictions should apply to absences due to care or health of an individual in an employee’s care.

Take our survey below and help guide the development of regulations that will set out the details of the restrictions on sick notes.

This opportunity for input closes June 6, 2025.

  • Sick Note Restrictions

    Tell us what you think and help to inform the future of sick notes.

    This opportunity for engagement is now closed. Thank you to all who participated. Your feedback will help inform our recommendations to government on regulation of sick note restrictions.