Canadian Medical Association calls to scrap some work ‘sick notes’

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has said that it will support legislation to eliminate some workplace sick notes to help ease the stress on the country’s healthcare system.

The Association reported that employees requesting sick notes from their doctors is an added burden to physicians and is using up valuable medical time, pulling doctors away from much-needed patient care.

This is heightened with the family physician shortage across Canada.

According to an October survey for the CMA about one-third of working Canadians were asked by their employers or educational institutions at least once in the past year to provide a sick note for a short-term absence.

The survey involved a random sample of 1,500 working adults in Canada.

The Association is urging the work ‘sick note’ requirement be dropped, at least when it pertains to minor illnesses that have employees off work for a few days.

The CMA recommends governments make legislative changes to limit the need for such notes. Physicians have suggested other options, such as signed declarations from employees and flexible leave policies.

In Ontario, the province just passed new legislation regarding sick days in Bill 190. This law means that workers won’t need to provide a sick note from a doctor or health-care provider to take three days off due to illness.

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