In May, The Saskatchewan Employment Amendment Act was given Royal Assent. The bill made numerous changes to workplace laws on topics such as overtime, group terminations and gratuities.

One change that will impact SGEU workplaces is an amendment to the rules around sick days and notes from a doctor. The bill restricts employers from asking for a sick note unless the employee has been absent for more than five consecutive working days. These changes are effective on January 1, 2026.

“This will reduce administrative burden for the health care system,” noted Jim Reiter, who serves as Saskatchewan’s Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Immigration and Career Training, and Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.

However, the bill is not as clear-cut as the government’s speeches and press releases might suggest. Some SGEU members might find they still get asked for sick notes for a period shorter than five days.

There are scenarios where management might ask for a sick note for less than five days. If a manager has reason to think an illness isn’t legitimate, like if a worker is asking for sick leave on the same day every week, they may have grounds to ask for a doctor’s note.

Also, some collective bargaining agreements (CBA) currently have language with a threshold requiring less than five days. When the law and the CBA are in conflict, the law sets the workplace policy. Bargaining committees will be examining that language as these agreements expire, especially when members direct them to.

If you have questions about sick notes and your workplace, you can take them to your steward to get answers. If you don’t know your steward, contact Member Services at 306.775.7872 or sgeumso@sgeu.org.