Each month, the Advocacy Committee answers your questions about the AD 10 policies (aka, your terms and conditions of employment).
Hello, I’m Tracey Ferris, APSA’s senior labour relations officer and an advocate on our Advocacy Committee. I’m answering your questions related to our AD 10 policies. Questions? Submit them anonymously here. These questions will be answered in a monthly issue of Advocacy Corner. For an immediate response, please contact us.
Dear APSA,
When I get ill, do I need to check in with my supervisor every morning that I’m sick? What do regular check-ins mean? When do I have to provide a medical note to my supervisor?
The AD 10 policies state that you must inform your supervisor if you‘re unable to work due to illness. This report should be made before the start of the workday or as soon as reasonably possible after work begins. However, if you are still sick, you must keep your supervisor informed. It’s APSA’s opinion that if you know that you may be ill for multiple days, you should inform the supervisor that it may be a few days instead of a daily check-in.
Traditionally, employers could ask for a doctor’s note for illness absences. The policy lets supervisors decide when to require such documentation. The University says:
“At the discretion of the supervisor, a physician's certificate satisfactory to the University may be required to support any absence due to illness or injury.”
(SFU Policy AD 10.08)
In our consultations with the University, depending on the illness, a note isn’t required for the first two weeks.
Changes to the Law: Bill 11 and Sick Notes
The B.C. government has also introduced Bill 11, which amends the Employment Standards Act. Which means that employers can no longer routinely require a sick note for short-term absences.
This means employees are still responsible for informing their supervisors of their illness and updating them on their status. Supervisors retain the right to request medical documentation—but only when it is reasonable and necessary, not for every short-term sickness.
If you have any specific questions or concerns about your terms and conditions of employment, please contact APSA. Your call or email is confidential.
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