Manitoba’s new rules restricting employers from asking workers to get “sick notes” for short-term illness absences from work will come into effect on October 1.
Starting Oct 1, Employers will not be allowed to request sick notes for short term absences from work unless a worker misses:
- more than a consecutive week of work; or
- more than a total of 10 scheduled workdays in a given calendar year, even if those days are spread out.
If/when employers do request sick notes outside of the restricted periods, they will be required to reimburse workers for the cost.
(Note that the new rules do not apply to medical documentation that may be requested related to mat/pat leave or to work accommodations / safe return to work plans after longer-term absences.)
These new restrictions on employers will take a lot of pressure off workers and off our overburdened health care system. We commend the government for putting these new rules in place – the strongest and most worker-friendly rules restricting sick notes in the country.