Can Your Employer Call Your Doctor in BC?

No. Under BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), your employer cannot contact your doctor without your explicit written consent. Your medical information is confidential.

BC Privacy Law Protects You

British Columbia has strong privacy legislation that prevents employers from accessing your medical information. PIPA governs private-sector employers, while FIPPA covers public-sector employers. Both require consent before any personal health information can be collected or disclosed.

What BC Employers CAN Do

BC employers have limited verification options:

• Request a sick note for extended absences (not routine for short ones)
• Verify the note's format and appearance
• Ask about functional limitations for accommodation purposes
• Request an IME at their expense for complex situations
• Use medletter.ca/verify to confirm document authenticity

What BC Employers CANNOT Do

Under BC privacy law, employers are prohibited from:

• Calling your doctor to verify a sick note
• Asking about your diagnosis or treatment plan
• Requesting your medical records or test results
• Contacting your pharmacy or specialists
• Requiring you to disclose your specific medical condition
• Sharing your health information with other employees

BC's Practical Approach

BC's government has actively discouraged employers from requiring sick notes for short absences due to the province's doctor shortage. The BC Employment Standards Branch has stated that requiring notes for 1-2 day absences places unnecessary burden on the healthcare system.

MedLetter: Privacy-First Verification

MedLetter provides a verification system (medletter.ca/verify) that lets employers confirm document authenticity without contacting any physician or accessing medical details. Letter ID + patient initials + date = verified. No diagnosis disclosed.