Weekend & After-Hours Sick Notes in New Brunswick
New Brunswick's healthcare system operates on banker's hours. If you get sick on Friday evening, Saturday, or Sunday, your options for getting a sick note are extremely limited.
After-Hours Options by City
Moncton:
- After Hours Medical Clinic (Mountain Rd) — Evenings until 9pm weekdays, Saturday 9am-2pm
- No Sunday options
- Cost: $40-$60
Saint John:
- Saint John After Hours Clinic — Evenings until 8pm weekdays
- Saturday: Limited hours (9am-12pm)
- No Sunday options
- Cost: $40-$55
Fredericton:
- After Hours Medical — Evenings until 8pm
- Saturday: 9am-1pm (limited spots)
- No Sunday options
- Cost: $40-$60
Northern NB (Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston):
- No after-hours clinics
- ER is the only option (inappropriate for sick notes)
The Sunday Problem
There are essentially zero walk-in or after-hours clinic options on Sundays anywhere in New Brunswick. If you get sick on Saturday night and need documentation for Monday:
- Emergency rooms are open but inappropriate (and 8-14 hour waits)
- Tele-Care 811 provides advice but cannot issue documentation
- Pharmacies are open but cannot write sick notes
MedLetter: The 24/7 Solution
MedLetter accepts sick note requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
- Submit at 10pm Friday → receive documentation Saturday
- Submit Saturday morning → receive same day
- Submit Sunday → receive same day
- $49 flat fee regardless of day or time
Shift Workers in New Brunswick
NB has significant shift work populations who need after-hours access:
- Irving Oil refinery workers (Saint John) — 24/7 operations
- J.D. Irving forestry/mill workers — Early morning and evening shifts
- Healthcare workers — Horizon and Vitalité Health Network staff
- Call centre workers (Moncton) — Evening and overnight shifts
- Port of Saint John workers — Irregular hours
These workers often can't access clinics during standard business hours, making online services essential.
Key Takeaway
New Brunswick's after-hours healthcare access is limited to a few evening clinics in the three major cities — and nothing on Sundays. For shift workers, rural residents, and anyone who gets sick outside of 9-5 weekday hours, MedLetter provides the only reliable path to same-day sick note documentation.
New Brunswick Employment Standards: Your Rights
Under New Brunswick's Employment Standards Act (2026):
- Employees are entitled to 5 unpaid sick days per year after 90 days of continuous employment
- Employers can request a medical certificate, but only for absences exceeding 3 consecutive days
- For absences of 1-3 days, employers cannot legally demand a sick note under provincial law
- The New Brunswick Human Rights Act protects employees from discrimination based on disability, including mental health conditions
- Employees working for federally regulated employers (Irving Oil, NB Power, telecommunications) follow the Canada Labour Code instead, which provides 10 paid sick days
When You Still Need a Note After Hours
Even though NB law limits when employers can demand documentation, you may still need a note for:
- Absences exceeding 3 consecutive days
- Short-term disability insurance claims through Medavie Blue Cross or other providers
- UNB, STU, or UdeM exam deferrals (universities set their own documentation requirements)
- Pattern absences flagged by your employer
- Return-to-work clearance after workplace injuries (WorkSafeNB)
Statistics: Healthcare Access in New Brunswick
According to the New Brunswick Health Council (2025-2026):
- Over 70,000 New Brunswickers have no family doctor
- Average walk-in clinic wait in Moncton: 3-5 hours
- Saint John ER average wait for non-urgent: 8-14 hours
- Northern NB (Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston) has critical physician shortages
- NB has seen a 35% increase in virtual care utilization since 2021
- The province's bilingual requirement (English/French) further limits available physicians
Practical Steps for NB Shift Workers
1. Know your rights — NB law only requires a note for absences over 3 days
2. Check your collective agreement — CUPE, IBEW, and Unifor agreements may have different thresholds
3. Irving employees — Irving Oil, J.D. Irving, and Irving Shipbuilding have specific attendance policies; check your employee handbook
4. Healthcare workers — Horizon and Vitalité Health Networks have strict documentation requirements for any absence
5. Document your notification — Text or email your supervisor when you call in sick for a paper trail
6. Keep MedLetter bookmarked — When you need documentation at 2am before a 6am shift, having the link ready saves critical time
Cost Comparison: After-Hours Options
| Option | Available After 5pm? | Sunday? | Cost | Wait |
|--------|---------------------|---------|------|------|
| Walk-in clinic | No | No | $30-$50 | 3-5 hrs |
| After-hours clinic | Until 8-9pm | No | $40-$60 | 1-2 hrs |
| ER (inappropriate) | Yes | Yes | Free | 8-14 hrs |
| MedLetter | Yes (24/7 intake) | Yes | $49 | Same-day delivery |
For New Brunswick workers on non-standard schedules, the math is clear: spending $49 for same-day documentation beats losing an entire day's wages ($200-$400) waiting at a clinic that may not even be open when you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a sick note online in New Brunswick?
Yes. Licensed physicians provide virtual consultations and issue valid sick notes for New Brunswick residents.
How many sick days do New Brunswick employees get?
New Brunswick provides unpaid sick leave under the Employment Standards Act. The specific entitlement depends on length of employment.
Will my New Brunswick employer accept an online sick note?
Yes. All New Brunswick employers must accept sick notes from licensed physicians, whether issued in person or through virtual care.
How fast can I get a sick note in New Brunswick?
Online services deliver most sick notes within 2-6 hours.