10/14/2026
In Ontario, you do not have to tell your employer the specifics of your diagnosis, even if you need time off work.
Your employer can ask how long you'll be off work and what you're able to do when you return.
That's it.
They're entitled to enough information to plan around your absence and figure out accommodations, not the specifics of your medical condition.
A doctor's note confirming your limitations and expected timeline is enough. Your actual diagnosis stays private.
If a medical condition is affecting your work, your employer does have a duty to accommodate you, within reason.
That can mean modified duties, adjusted hours, time off for treatment, or remote work where it makes sense. "It's a bit inconvenient for us" isn't a valid reason to refuse.
They only get out of accommodating you if doing so would cause genuine, serious hardship, and refusing to even attempt it is where employers get themselves into trouble.
One more thing worth knowing: you can't be required to be "100% recovered" before returning to work.
Employers have to accommodate what you can do right now, gradual return included, not sideline you until you're back to full capacity.
If your employer is pushing for more medical detail than they're entitled to, or making your return to work harder than it needs to be, that's worth a conversation.
Tag someone who needs to see this. 👇
