The Manitoba Government has announced it will legislate a limit on sick notes following consensus reached by unions and management, posting details on the policy direction and the intention to introduce legislation in the upcoming spring legislative session.

A report posted on the government website shows the policy direction in Manitoba following consensus reached by the Labour Management Review Committee. The new rules will apply to all circumstances, including the use of paid or unpaid sick leave. Employers will be prohibited from requiring sick notes for:

• Absences of up to 7 consecutive calendar days or less, or
• Fewer than 10 cumulative workdays in a calendar year.

After this, an employer has the option to request a sick note. These rules will not limit when medical certificates are required for long term leaves (e.g. parental leave), nor for medical reports required to inform safe work plans, disability eligibility, accommodations, etc.

Legislation to update the Employment Standards Code is expected in Spring 2026. 

“Doctors are very encouraged to hear the Manitoba government plans to eliminate sick notes in the year ahead,” said Dr. Nichelle Desilets, President of Doctors Manitoba. ​“Doctors Manitoba recommended eliminating sick notes over a year ago. We have met with private and public employers, unions, HR experts, and other stakeholders to build consensus about eliminating sick notes. We’ve shown that sick notes aren’t an effective HR tool to verify absences. We all end up paying for sick notes through longer wait times to see a doctor and as taxpayers too.”

Manitoba was one of only two provinces in Canada that had not taken action to limit sick notes in any way, but now Manitoba is about to move from worst to first in Canada when it comes to limiting sick notes. This is good for patients, good for employers, and good for physicians. 

“On behalf of physicians, we thank the provincial government for its commitment to eliminate sick notes, and we look forward to continued collaboration,” added Dr. Desilets. 

By the numbers:

• Over 600,000 sick notes requested per year in Manitoba
• A third of the time, patients no longer have symptoms to verify by the time they see their doctor. These are unnecessary medical appointments that cost taxpayers over $8 million per year. 
• Eliminating sick notes will free up the equivalent of 300,000 patient visits per year.