Do I need a doctor’s note?

Check out The CCFA’s Guide to Faculty Leaves for more information on sick days and short-term disability leaves.

The short answer is: probably not.

B.C.’s Employment Standard Act (ESA) was recently updated to install a change long-clamoured for by the Health Sector: an Employer cannot request a note from a health care practitioner to verify an Employee’s first two absences per calendar year of five days or fewer.

The Employee may request a physician’s note for absences longer than five days (or for short absences after the first two), but that does not necessarily mean that an Employee must provide it. The Employee (i.e. you) only needs to provide “reasonably sufficient proof” of their illness or injury. 

“Reasonably sufficient proof” may be a doctor’s note, but it can be anything that would reasonably be considered to provide proof of the absence cited. This proof could be a medical bracelet, a prescription, an accident report, or other documentation from the care provider.

The legislation has not been seriously tested yet, and what may constitute “reasonably sufficient proof” is largely contextual. The ESA advises “flexibility and a balancing of the rights and the obligations of the employee and the employer” in determining such proof.

Check with your Chair or workplace leader about what leave form you may be required to complete once you are well enough to return from work.