How to get a doctor's note for work in Ontario

Doctor's notes › Notes for work

Can your employer require a doctor's note in Ontario?

Not always — and this changed recently. Under the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 (Bill 190), in effect since October 28, 2024, an employer cannot require a doctor's note for the three days of unpaid, job-protected sick leave that employees get each year under the Employment Standards Act (ESA). For those days, an employer can ask only for "evidence reasonable in the circumstances," which for a short statutory absence generally means a brief statement from you — not a physician's note.

Your employer can still reasonably ask for a doctor's note when:

• your absence is longer than the ESA-protected sick days;
• you're on a leave that falls outside ESA sick leave (for example, a longer medical leave);
• your employment contract or workplace policy requires medical documentation for absences of a certain length; or
• you need to confirm you are fit to return to work, or need a workplace accommodation.

What a doctor's note for work includes — and what stays private

A common worry is that a sick note reveals your medical details to your employer. It doesn't. A work note confirms only what the employer is entitled to know — that you were assessed and need time off — without disclosing your diagnosis or private clinical information.

It does not include your diagnosis, symptoms, or treatment details unless you specifically want it to. That balance — confirming the absence while protecting your privacy — is what makes a physician-issued note appropriate for the workplace.

How to get a doctor's note for work online

With Doctor Fran, getting a work note is built around a real consultation, not a form:

1. Create your account in the app — we verify your identity, no health card number required.
2. Tell us you need a sick note for work and complete the flat-fee payment.
3. A licensed Ontario physician calls you, typically the same day, and assesses you by phone.
4. If clinically appropriate, your note is issued and delivered through the app, ready to send to your employer.

Every physician on Doctor Fran is licensed in Ontario and registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) — verifiable on the CPSO public register. A note from a licensed physician who assessed you is a legitimate medical document, accepted the same as one issued in a clinic.

Fit-to-work and return-to-work notes

Sometimes the document your employer needs isn't a sick note but a return-to-work or fit-to-work note — confirming you're able to resume your duties, sometimes with temporary modifications. A physician can provide this after assessing you, which helps you return safely and gives your employer the confirmation they need. See our full guide to return-to-work and fit-to-work notes.

How much does a doctor's note for work cost?

In Ontario, sick notes are an uninsured service — OHIP doesn't pay for them, so even people with OHIP usually pay out of pocket. Walk-in clinics typically charge a consultation fee plus a separate document fee. Through Doctor Fran it's a flat $82 with the note included — no extra document fee, no subscription.

Getting a work note without OHIP

You don't need OHIP or a health card. Doctor Fran was built for people in Ontario without provincial coverage — international students, visitors, newcomers waiting for their card, and work permit holders — as well as anyone with OHIP but no family doctor. You pay by card in the app. For the bigger picture, see our guide to getting a doctor's note online in Ontario and how to see a doctor without a health card.

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer force me to get a doctor's note?

Not for the three statutory ESA sick days — since Bill 190 (October 2024), employers can't require a physician's note for those. They can require one for longer absences, non-ESA leave, or where a workplace policy reasonably calls for documentation.

Does a sick note tell my employer what's wrong with me?

No. A work note confirms that you were assessed and need time off (or are fit to return), without disclosing your diagnosis or clinical details unless you choose to include them.

Will my employer accept an online doctor's note?

A note from an Ontario-licensed, CPSO-registered physician who assessed you is a legitimate medical document and is generally accepted the same as one from a clinic. Notes generated with no physician assessment are not legitimate and may be rejected.

How fast can I get a note for work?

A licensed Ontario physician will typically call you the same day you book, and the note is delivered through the app once issued — so you can have it for the next workday.

Do I need OHIP to get a work note?

No. Doctor Fran is designed for patients without OHIP or a health card, and you pay directly in the app.