Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace

The Alberta Human Rights Commission receives many inquiries from both employers and employees about medical information issues related to medical absences and an employee's ability to work. The Commission has developed the human rights guide Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace to help employers, employees and doctors achieve good communication and effective workplace accommodations for employees. The guide includes a Sample Medical Absence Form and a Sample Medical Ability to Work Form. The forms were developed in consultation with the Alberta Federation of Labour, Alberta Medical Association, Alberta Workers' Health Centre, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

Three plain language information sheets complement the comprehensive human rights guide. Each information sheet is aimed at one of three target audiences-employers, employees, or doctors-who all play a role in gathering and providing reasonable medical information about an employee's disability.

The Commission anticipates that these resources will help employers, employees, and doctors achieve good communication and effective workplace accommodations for employees.

Human rights guide

• Obtaining and responding to medical information  TEXT / PDF

Information sheets

• Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace:
  A summary for employers  TEXT / PDF

• Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace:
  A summary for employees  TEXT / PDF

• Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace:
  A summary for doctors  TEXT / PDF
  

Created: November 3, 2009