Can my employer ask for a sick note or doctor's note if I have COVID-19?

Doctors across Ontario are expressing frustration at a growing number of employers requesting doctor's notes (or sick notes) from employees if they need to stay home after developing COVID-19 symptoms. This requirement by many companies has created more stress and worry for workers. What are an employee's obligations in this post-pandemic period?

Alex Lucifero, an Ottawa employment lawyer and Managing Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke to CTV News Ottawa about the legalities surrounding sick notes in Ontario and what an employee's rights are.

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0:00 - Interview

1️⃣ Are employees required to provide their employer with a doctor's note if they are suffering from COVID-19? - 1:04
Under Ontario's Employment Standards Act, an employer does not have the right to ask for a medical note. The employee does not have a legal obligation to provide a sick note.

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