Updated July 2026 — Current Alberta Employment Standards for young workers and seasonal employees.
Summer Jobs and Sick Notes: What Students Need to Know
Every summer, hundreds of thousands of Alberta students take seasonal jobs — retail, restaurants, landscaping, construction labour, camp counselling, oil field support, and warehouse work. Many of these students have never had to navigate calling in sick before.
Here is the situation: you are 19, working a summer landscaping job, and you wake up with heat exhaustion or a stomach bug. Your boss texts asking for a doctor's note. You do not have a family doctor. You do not know your rights. You cannot afford to lose this job — you need it for tuition.
This guide covers everything Alberta student workers need to know about sick notes.
Do Summer Job Employers Require Sick Notes?
It depends on the employer, but here is the reality for common Alberta summer jobs:
| Job Type | Sick Note Typically Required? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Retail (Walmart, Canadian Tire, etc.) | Yes, for 2+ days | Corporate policy |
| Fast food / restaurants | Sometimes, manager discretion | High turnover, less formal |
| Landscaping / construction | Often, especially for safety | Liability concerns |
| Summer camps | Yes, almost always | Child safety regulations |
| Warehouse (Amazon, etc.) | Yes, automated attendance system | Points-based absence tracking |
| Oil field support | Yes, always | Safety-critical environment |
| Office / admin temp work | Varies by agency | Staffing agency policy |
Your Rights as a Student Worker in Alberta
You Have the Same Rights as Any Employee
Alberta's Employment Standards Code does not distinguish between student workers and other employees. Whether you are 17 or 45, full-time or part-time, permanent or seasonal — the same rules apply:
- Your employer can require a sick note if it is part of a consistent policy
- You are entitled to Personal and Family Responsibility Leave (5 days unpaid) after 90 days
- You cannot be fired because you are sick (Human Rights Act protection)
- Your employer cannot require you to disclose your diagnosis
The 90-Day Problem for Summer Workers
Here is the catch: most summer jobs last May through August (roughly 90-120 days). If you get sick in your first few weeks, you have not yet hit the 90-day threshold for job-protected leave.
This means:
- Before 90 days: No statutory sick leave protection, but Human Rights Act still applies
- After 90 days: Full access to 5 days personal leave + 27 weeks long-term leave
Minimum Age Considerations
If you are under 18, Alberta has additional employment rules (maximum hours, prohibited occupations), but sick note requirements are the same regardless of age.
Common Summer Job Sick Note Scenarios
Scenario 1: Heat-Related Illness
Alberta summers regularly hit 30°C+. If you work outdoors (landscaping, construction, camp), heat exhaustion is a real risk. Symptoms include:
- Dizziness and nausea
- Severe headache
- Muscle cramps
- Confusion
If heat illness prevents you from working, you need documentation. This is especially important for outdoor workers because your employer has a legal obligation to provide safe working conditions. A sick note creates a record that heat illness occurred.
Scenario 2: Food Poisoning from a BBQ or Restaurant
Summer means barbecues, food trucks, and camping food. Food poisoning peaks in summer months. If you cannot keep anything down, you cannot work — especially in food service, where working while ill violates Alberta Health regulations.
Scenario 3: Sports Injury
Summer sports injuries (soccer, baseball, mountain biking, hiking) are extremely common among young workers. A sprained ankle or wrist means you cannot perform physical labour. Get a note documenting the injury and expected recovery time.
Scenario 4: Post-Stampede / Festival Recovery
Let's be honest — Calgary Stampede, K-Days in Edmonton, and summer festivals lead to absences. While a hangover is not a medical condition, if you are genuinely unwell (dehydration, food poisoning from fair food, injury), a sick note is legitimate.
How to Get a Sick Note Without a Family Doctor
Most students aged 18-24 do not have their own family doctor. Your options:
1. Online Service (Fastest)
Submit a form online, get your note same-day by email. No appointment, no video call, no leaving your bed. Cost: $49.
2. Walk-In Clinic
Find a clinic near you, wait 2-4 hours, get a note. Cost: $20-$50 for the note + your time.
3. University Health Centre
If you are a university student, your campus health centre may provide notes. However, most are closed or have limited hours during summer.
4. Parent's Family Doctor
If you are still on your parent's health plan and their family doctor will see you, this may be free. But getting a same-day appointment is unlikely.
What If You Cannot Afford a Sick Note?
At $49, a sick note is a real expense for a student making $15-$20/hour. Here are options:
- Ask your employer to reimburse — Some will, especially if they required the note
- Check your student health plan — Many university health plans cover "medical documentation" fees
- Check your parent's benefits — You may be covered under their extended health plan until age 25
- Consider the alternative — Losing a summer job costs far more than $49
Protecting Your Summer Job
Do's:
- Notify your employer ASAP (text or email for written proof)
- Get a sick note even if not explicitly required
- Return to work as soon as you are well
- Offer to make up missed shifts if possible
- Be professional and communicative
Don'ts:
- Do not post on social media while "sick" (employers check)
- Do not call in sick for a hangover without legitimate symptoms
- Do not ignore your employer's messages while absent
- Do not assume summer jobs have no sick note policies
- Do not wait until you return to get documentation
FAQ
Can my summer job fire me for calling in sick once?
Technically, if you are in your first 90 days, your employer can terminate you without notice for any reason — except discrimination. If you have a sick note proving legitimate illness, firing you creates evidence of discrimination.
Do I need a sick note for a part-time job?
The same rules apply to part-time and full-time workers. If your employer's policy requires a note, it applies to you regardless of hours worked.
What if my boss says "just don't come in, no note needed"?
Get a note anyway. Verbal assurances mean nothing if your employer later claims you had an unauthorized absence. Protect yourself with documentation.
I work two summer jobs. Do I need two sick notes?
One note covering the dates you were unable to work is sufficient for both employers. You can provide a copy to each.
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Sources
1. Alberta Employment Standards Code — Young Workers — [alberta.ca/young-workers](https://www.alberta.ca/young-workers)
2. Alberta Employment Standards Code, RSA 2000, c E-9 — [alberta.ca/employment-standards](https://www.alberta.ca/employment-standards)
3. Alberta Occupational Health & Safety — Heat Stress — [alberta.ca/ohs](https://www.alberta.ca/ohs)
4. Alberta Human Rights Act, RSA 2000, c A-25.5 — [alberta.ca/alberta-human-rights-act](https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-human-rights-act)
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Related: [Do I Need a Sick Note for 1 Day Off?](/blog/do-i-need-sick-note-1-day-off-alberta) | [Sick Note During Probation Alberta](/blog/sick-note-new-job-probation-alberta) | [How Long Without a Doctor's Note Alberta?](/blog/how-long-off-sick-without-doctors-note-alberta-2026)