Legacy Bowes Blog

Sick notes, or medical notes, are a common way for employers to verify an employee’s medical related illness from work. Recently, there has been a significant shift towards reducing an employer’s requirement for such notes.

Legal changes across the country are reflecting this. The rationale for this change is to remove the administrative burden for healthcare providers and employers along with reducing the risk for employees who must visit medical clinics, potentially exposing others and delaying recovery. The Canadian Medical Association has long advocated for the elimination of sick notes in the workplace, noting the burden they place on physicians and the potential for misuse.

Read on for a snapshot of what is happening across Canada regarding sick notes. 

The new leave related to pregnancy loss is set to take effect by December 2025 for federally regulated employees.

Read on to learn more about this leave. 

Recording workplace conversations can be a sensitive and complex topic in Canada. With increased awareness about employee rights, privacy and the need for documentation, many wonder whether it’s legal or ethical to record discussions in the workspace.

In this article, we’ll explore the rights of both employers and employees, how such recordings can either help or hinder situations and the guidelines around bringing a support person to employee performance meetings.

On December 4, 2024, the Saskatchewan Government introduced Bill 5, The Saskatchewan Employment Amendment Act 2024. The amendments were introduced to reduce the administrative burden for employers while protecting the rights of employees. The amendments, if passed, would come into force on proclamation.

Read on for an overview of the changes. 

Workplace conflict refers to the disputes that arise between coworkers. Conflict is a natural human tendency, and can result in positive outcomes when people raise dissenting opinions in a fair and respectful way. When negative conflict becomes disruptive to your business or starts affecting other employees it can become a problem.