BC Government moves to eliminate the requirement for sick notes

The Employment Standards Act (ESA) in BC allows employees to take 5 paid sick days each year.  Currently, employers can require some proof that the employee is entitled to a paid sick day. Some employers are requiring a sick note from a healthcare provider.   

British Columbia’s labour minister, Jennifer Whiteside, introduced Bill 11 on April 15, 2025.  The Bill would amend the ESA to limit the situations where employers can request sick notes from their employees for short-term absences. Part of the purpose of Bill 11 is to reduce the strain on healthcare providers in BC. 

The BC government is currently engaged with stakeholders for input before creating regulations. The legislation is not yet in force. The government is intending to have the law in force before cold and flu season in fall 2025. 

The BC Government media release can be found here.

We will provide updates on our blog about Bill 11.

If you have questions about this or similar topics, please get in touch with Scott Marcinkow or any other member of our Workplace Law team.