Manitoba Federation of Labour

Your Rights at work

Manitoba’s New Rules for Sick Notes

Starting on October 1, 2026, employers will not be allowed to request sick notes for short term absences from work unless a worker misses:

  • more than a consecutive week of work; or
  • more than a total of 10 scheduled workdays in a given calendar year, even if those days are spread out.

If/when employers do request sick notes outside of these restricted periods, they will be required to reimburse workers for the cost. (Note that the new rules do not apply to medical documentation that may be requested related to mat/pat leave or to work accommodations / safe return to work plans after longer-term absences.)

These new restrictions on employers will take a lot of pressure off workers and off our overburdened health care system. We commend the government for putting these new rules in place – the strongest and most worker-friendly rules restricting sick notes in the country.

For more information, please read the Manitoba government’s FAQ. Doctors Manitoba has also prepared a more comprehensive Toolkit for Employers intended to help employers shape new workplace procedures re absences due to illness

Woman speaking on a phone in an office.
The workplace rights that are set out in law and in collective agreements help to keep workers safe on the job and make sure all employers have to meet basic standards in how they treat workers.
On this page you can find more information about the two major laws that impact all of us at work in Manitoba: the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Standards Code.

Labour Relations

The Labour Relations Act (LRA) is the law that lays out how you can exercise your right to join a union, and sets out the rules for union-management relations. The LRA provides rules for issues such as:
  • the process for certifying a union as the official bargaining agent for workers in a workplace,
  • what types of issues can be included in a collective agreement,
  • what employer actions are considered “unfair labour practices,”
  • processes to resolve deadlocked labour negotiations,
  • rules for strikes and lockouts, and
  • applications to the Labour Board to settle disputes about LRA.
Baker smiling with her arms crossed along with other bakers in a kitchen.
To find out more about the LRA you can consult the Manitoba Government’s Guide to the Labour Relations Act or download the full Labour Relations Act. 
Government’s Guide
Labour Relations Act

Smiling man holding hard hat in a warehouse.

Employment Standards

Many of the most basic rights and standards that have been won to protect all workers- like the minimum wage, holiday time, maternity leave and over-time pay – are set out in the Employment Standards Code.

The labour movement has always fought passionately to improve the lives and working conditions of all working people, both unionized and non-unionized. 

Manitoba’s Employment Standards Code:
  • Establishes the minimum wage
  • Gives you the right to be paid extra for working over-time or working on public holidays
  • Sets out entitlements for vacation time
  • Gives you the right to be paid for a minimum number of hours if you’re sent home early from a shift
  • Gives you the right to take time off from work to deal with certain family situations, like caring for a sick loved one
  • NEW: Gives you the right to take time off from work with pay in order to take steps to deal with  domestic violence situations – for more information, click here
  • Provides you with basic rights if you are laid off or fired.
You can find out more details by consulting the provincial government’s Quick Guide to the Employment Standards Code. There are also several helpful provincial fact sheets on specific issues in the Employment Standards Code, such as overtime rights, family leave, bereavement leave, maternity leave, and more. You can also see which employers have been fined for not complying with the Employment Standards Code.
Employment Standards Code
Fact Sheet
Fined Employers