Effective immediately, new rules in British Columbia will limit when employers can request sick notes, aiming to reduce unnecessary paperwork for workers and free up health-care providers to focus on patient care.

Under the updated employment standards regulations, employers can no longer require a sick note for an employee’s first two health-related absences of five consecutive days or fewer in a calendar year.

“When you’re sick with the flu, or your child comes down with a cold, the last thing you should have to do is go to your doctor or a medical clinic to get a piece of paper saying you’re sick,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour. “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.”

Health-care providers contributed to the new rules, citing scientific evidence that most minor illnesses, such as colds and influenza, typically resolve within five days.

“No one should have to choose between their health and their job,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “These new rules ensure that when people are unwell, they can stay home to recover and help prevent the spread of illness without the added stress of getting a sick note. This change also reduces unnecessary administrative burdens for doctors and allows them to focus on what matters most: providing care to patients.”

The changes also benefit a wide range of health-care professionals, including physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and midwives. By removing the need for unnecessary sick notes, the regulations help reduce both out-of-pocket costs for workers—such as transportation or child care—and administrative burdens on providers.

Dr. Katherine Bell, president of the B.C. College of Family Physicians, praised the move. “Every day, family doctors spend hours on unnecessary administrative tasks. What’s really exciting is how the provincial government is listening to our community-based family physicians and putting the solutions we know will make a difference into action. This is an important step toward improving access to care and making our health-care system work better for everyone.”

Dr. Lisa Gaede, family physician and Doctors of BC representative on the Administration Burdens Working Group, added: “Sick notes for short-term illness put an enormous burden on physicians and other primary care providers. Setting limits on employers who require these notes means that someone with a cold can stay home from work and rest, and I can be more available for patients who need my help.”

The new regulations set a minimum standard and apply to all employees covered by the Employment Standards Act. They are part of broader efforts to reduce administrative burdens in health care and improve system efficiency.