Doctor's Note in Winnipeg, delivered today

Manitoba is in the middle of one of the most significant changes to sick note rules of any province in Canada, and Winnipeg employees need to understand exactly where things stand right now and where they are headed.

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As of early 2026, the Manitoba government has confirmed it will introduce legislation under the Employment Standards Code to prohibit employers from requiring a sick note for most short-term absences. Under the proposed rules, employers will only be permitted to request a sick note after an employee has been absent for seven or more consecutive calendar days, or after the employee has missed more than 10 scheduled workdays within a calendar year due to illness or injury. Doctors Manitoba president Dr. Nichelle Desilets has publicly stated that these rules are expected to be the clearest and strongest sick note restrictions of any province in Canada once enacted. Manitoba was previously one of only two provinces that had taken no meaningful action to restrict sick note requests, which meant Winnipeg employers could ask for documentation from day one of any absence. That is about to change significantly.

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However, two things are critical for Winnipeg employees to understand. First, as of the date this page was published, the legislation has been announced but not yet enacted. Until the new law formally takes effect, Manitoba's existing Employment Standards Code applies, and Winnipeg employers currently retain the ability to request a sick note in connection with any absence, provided the request is reasonable. Second, even once the new law takes effect, it will not apply to every situation. The restrictions will cover short-term absences only. Employers will still be able to require physician documentation for return-to-work situations after a significant illness or injury, for extended medical leaves, for long-term illness leave applications, and for any documentation required under a collective agreement or specific employment contract. Manitoba's Employment Standards Code also expressly preserves the employer's right to require a return-to-work certificate confirming fitness to resume duties after any absence.

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For Winnipeg employees who need documentation for an extended absence, a disability benefit application, a return-to-work clearance, or any situation that falls outside the short-term threshold the new rules will cover, physician-issued documentation remains a requirement. For University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg students who missed an exam or need an academic deferral, the same applies — academic accommodation policies operate independently of provincial employment standards. If you need a same-day sick note, medical certificate, or any other physician-issued documentation in Winnipeg, Canada Medical Notes delivers to your inbox within 2 to 4 hours without a clinic visit. Submit your request today.