Sick Notes for Family Caregiving Leave in BC
BC law provides leave for caring for sick family members. Here's what documentation you need and your rights as a caregiver.
## Sick Notes for Family Caregiving Leave in BC
Sometimes you need time off not because you're sick, but because a family member needs care. BC law provides several types of leave for caregivers.
### Types of Caregiving Leave in BC
**Family Responsibility Leave**
- Up to 5 days per year (unpaid)
- For care of immediate family members
- No medical note legally required, but employers may request one
**Compassionate Care Leave**
- Up to 27 weeks (unpaid, but EI-eligible)
- For caring for a family member at risk of death
- Requires a medical certificate for the ill family member
**Critical Illness Leave**
- Up to 36 weeks for a child, 16 weeks for an adult
- For caring for a critically ill family member
- Requires a medical certificate
### When You Need Documentation
- **Family Responsibility Leave**: Your employer may request reasonable proof
- **Compassionate Care Leave**: Medical certificate required (for the ill family member)
- **Your own sick note**: If caregiving stress has made you ill, you can take your own sick days
### How MedLetter Can Help
If caregiving responsibilities have affected your own health (stress, exhaustion, burnout), MedLetter can provide documentation for your own sick leave. We can also provide notes confirming your need to attend to a family member's medical needs.
**Get documentation — [Start here](/get-started/sick_note)**