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Sick Notes Resources for Physicians

As of October 1, 2026, employers are no longer permitted to request sick notes in most situations, following advocacy on behalf of physicians by Doctors Manitoba. 

This page includes resources for your practice, including what the changes mean for you and how you can reinforce the new rules to decrease sick note requests.

Sick Note Rules 

While most sick notes have been eliminated with new rules under Manitoba’s Employment Standards, there are exceptions in which sick notes can still be requested. 

Sick notes are documentation from physicians to verify illness- or injury-related absences.

When are sick notes prohibited? Employers are prohibited from requesting a sick note if a worker has been absent:

  • Less than a week (7 calendar days), or
  • Fewer than 10 cumulative workdays over the calendar year.

Note: federally-regulated workplaces have slightly different rules (no sick notes until after five consecutive workdays). This includes the federal government, most banks and airlines, for example. 

When are sick notes allowed? There are several situations when sick notes may still be requested: 

  • For workers who are absent from work longer than the limits noted above (i.e. more than a week or more than 10 cumulative workdays in a calendar year).
  • For longer protected leaves (e.g. maternal/​parental leave)
  • For absences from school, sports, or other institutions/​events not covered by employment standards.

Employers must accept sick notes from any health professional qualified to provide one, including physicians, physician assistants, clinical assistants, midwives, nurse practitioners, nurses, or psychologists.

Read more in this Employment Standards Fact Sheet.

Changes in Your Practice

It’s important for physicians to help educate patients and employers about the new sick note rules. Please use the following resources in your practice, so we can help eliminate as many sick notes as possible! 

Website / Phone System

Please use and adapt the following resources in your clinic, depending on how patients interact with your practice for appointments or to request a sick note, 

Website and Phone Line: Consider adding the following text on your website and phone system, including specifically when a patient books an appointment:

  • Looking for a sick note? Please note employers in Manitoba cannot ask workers for a sick note in most situations. Do not book an appointment only to get a sick note unless you’ve been off work for more than a week, or for over 10 days in total so far this year.
Posters for Clinic

We suggest posting notices about sick note limits in your clinic. Doctors Manitoba is sending posters to all clinics in the province. You can also download a printer-friendly poster for your clinic:

Skip the sick note poster
Script for Reception

You and your staff should inform patients about sick note rules. Most reception staff already ask the reason for an appointment. If the patient says they need a sick note, staff can ask:

  • “Do you need medical care, or only a sick note?”
  • (If only a sick note) ​“Manitoba law no longer allows employers to ask for sick notes in most situations. Unless you’ve been off work for more than a week, or more than 10 days total so far this year, there’s no need to book an appointment to see the doctor.”
New Sick Note Template

Please update your EMR sick note template with the following to help reinforce the new rules with employers.

Add this in bold at the bottom of your sick note template:

—NOTICE TO EMPLOYER—
Employers can no longer require an employee to obtain a sick note, with few exceptions, according to Manitoba’s Employment Standards. 

Please update your internal policies and procedures to manage absences without sick notes. Free resources are available to help you update your policies, courtesy of Doctors Manitoba and CPHR Manitoba. Visit Doc​torsNotes​.ca to access the free HR Toolkit.

Charging for Sick Notes

Sick notes are not an insured service, and thus physicians are permitted to charge patients for producing one. As of October 1, 2026, when a sick note is requested by an employer, the employer is required to reimburse the worker for the cost. 

  • You should set a reasonable cost for a sick note, taking into consideration whether you are also billing Manitoba Health for a visit.
  • You must be set up processes to accept payments and provide a receipt.
  • Physicians should continue to use their discretion about charging patients for sick notes and other documentation.
What Should Physicians Say?

Physicians should err on the side of providing sick notes, recognizing it may take some time for employers to change their policies, and also because sick notes are still permitted in some limited situations. 

If the patient sees you for medical care and asks for a sick note, you should:

  1. Reinforce the sick note rules
  2. Advise the patient if there is a charge for a sick note
  3. Offer to provide a sick note (using the new template noted above)

Sample explanation for patient: Generally, employers can no longer ask workers for sick notes in most situations, and only if you’ve been off work for over a week or more than 10 total days so far this year. I can still provide you with a note today to verify you were in my office. You should know, we charge <amount> dollars for a sick note in our office. Employers must reimburse you for the cost of a sick note, so keep your receipt. 

Should I Report Employers?

If you encounter employers who still routinely require sick notes, you could consider reporting them to Manitoba Employment Standards Branch by emailing employmentstandards@​gov.​mb.​ca or by faxing 204−948−3046. The government will focus first on education, but employers could face a fine of up to $500.

Funding for this initiative was made possible by the Canadian Medical Association, MD Financial Management Inc. and Scotiabank as part of the Health Care Unburdened Grant program.

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