Bulletin
BCH & Powertech – Documenting Medical Leaves
March 26, 2025
To: All MoveUP members at BCH & Powertech
IMPORTANT: Make sure your medical leaves are properly documented to avoid employer claw backs.
This bulletin is to remind all our members at BC Hydro that when using sick leave, you must send the employer a completed Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) from your doctor whenever they request it to substantiate your sick leave and avoid potentially having your pay docked.
Over the last several months, a growing number of members have had their future pay docked by the employer to claw back pay for sick leave that was not substantiated with an APS. In some cases, this happened months after the leave was paid out.
When do I have to provide documentation?
Per Article 15.07 of your collective agreement, there are two instances when your employer may require a completed APS to verify your sick leave:
- If an absence exceeds five working days, or
- If you have more than four absences over 12 months.
Why do I have to show proof of sick leave if I am entitled to it?
Per Article 15.03 of your collective agreement, all eligible employees are entitled to sick leave at full pay for a total of 105 calendar days within a continuous 26-week period. Our position has always been that employees should take sick leave whenever they are suffering from injury or illness, with the understanding that they will not abuse their sick leave provisions. To that end, the article includes the employer’s ability to require documentation ensuring uses of the leave are justified if certain conditions are met, as noted above.
Is MoveUP advocating to end this requirement?
We recognize that the need to obtain medical documentation, especially in a post-pandemic world, is both challenging and needlessly time-consuming. We are actively advocating to your employer to end this practice not only because it is a waste of your time, but it is a waste of the precious time of our overworked health care professionals.
We are encouraged that BC Premier David Eby announced in September 2024 that his government wants to prohibit employers from requiring doctors’ notes for short sick leave absences from work.
We will continue to monitor these developments in the hope that legislation will be passed banning sick note requirements.
In the meantime, we ask all members to continue to follow the existing rules to avoid having the employer attempt to claw back future pay for undocumented sick leaves.
Next Steps for Members
If you are unable to provide an Attending Physician’s Statement as requested by BC Hydro, please:
- Consult with a local job steward to discuss next steps
- Understand your rights under Article 15.07
- Stay informed as we monitor changes to provincial regulations
Your union is committed to ensuring that BC Hydro’s sick leave policies remain fair and reasonable. We will continue advocating on your behalf and providing updates as the situation develops.
In solidarity,
Mike Novak, Union Representative
Alina Teymory, Union Representative
Paul Voykin, Union Representative
Richard Van Grol, Union Representative
