Letter to Employers Regarding Sick Notes
May 22, 2020
Dear Employer,
Saskatchewan has declared a public health emergency due to the rising number of cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Please excuse your employees from work or accommodate alternative work arrangements in alignment with orders of the Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer regarding self-isolation.
On March 17th, the Saskatchewan Legislature passed new legislation that extends leave to all workers during the declared public health emergency and removes the requirement for sick notes. The Chair of the Saskatchewan Medical Association's Section of Family Practice, Dr. Carla Holinaty, has said that "writing sick notes places extra duties on doctors when they're already dealing with an unprecedented public health challenge." Additionally, there is no role for requiring a doctor's note to "clear" an employee to return to work after a period of self- isolation if they are asymptomatic and have not been re-exposed.
Please treat this letter as a sick note based on the provincial health guidance. Individualized sick notes will not be provided to confirm if your employee has been tested for COVID-19 or to confirm recovery from illness. It is our civic responsibility to social distance and avoid unnecessary office visits in order to limit spread during this pandemic.
This information is available in PDF printable format below.