Can Your Ontario Employer Ask Why You Were Sick? Privacy Rights
Ontario employers have limited rights to ask about your medical condition. Here's what they can and cannot demand to know.
## Can Your Ontario Employer Ask Why You Were Sick?
**They can ask, but you don't have to provide specific details.** Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and the Human Rights Code protect your medical information.
### What Your Employer CAN Ask
- Whether you are able to return to work
- An estimated return date
- Whether you need any workplace accommodations
- A sick note confirming you were unwell (not the diagnosis)
- Whether the absence is related to a workplace injury (WSIB)
### What Your Employer CANNOT Demand
- Your specific diagnosis or medical condition
- Details about your symptoms
- Names of medications you're taking
- Your doctor's name or clinic location
- Access to your medical records
- Details about mental health treatment
### What a Sick Note Should Contain
A properly written sick note includes:
- ✅ Confirmation the employee was assessed
- ✅ Dates of absence
- ✅ Whether the employee is fit to return
- ✅ Any functional limitations (if relevant)
- ❌ NOT the specific diagnosis
- ❌ NOT detailed medical history
- ❌ NOT treatment details
### The Legal Framework
**PHIPA (Personal Health Information Protection Act):**
- Your health information is confidential
- Employers are not "health information custodians" under PHIPA
- They can only receive information you consent to share
**Ontario Human Rights Code:**
- Employers cannot discriminate based on disability
- Asking for excessive medical detail can constitute harassment
- The duty to accommodate requires only functional information
### MedLetter's Privacy-First Approach
Our sick notes satisfy employer requirements while protecting your privacy. They confirm a physician reviewed your situation and you required time off — without disclosing your diagnosis.
**[Get a privacy-respecting sick note →](/get-started/sick_note)**