'We are listening and responding to the needs of employers and employees'
Newfoundland and Labrador has proposed the removal of the sick notes requirement under its Labour Standards Act.
Lisa Dempster, minister responsible for labour, proposed an amendment to remove the requirement for employees to provide employers with sick notes after three consecutive days of sick leave.
“This proposed update to the Labour Standards Act will remove the requirement to provide sick notes which is causing an undue burden on the health care system,” says Dempster.
“We also know that requiring employees with coughs/colds and other infectious diseases to visit a health care professional or facility for a note may contribute to the spread of infection. This amendment is another example of how we are listening and responding to the needs of employers and employees.”
Previously, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) urged an end to the requirement for sick notes for short-term minor illnesses, arguing that the practice places unnecessary burdens on physicians and strains an already overstretched healthcare system.
According to the government, the amendment would:
In Canada, the requirement for sick notes varies by province. This amendment aligns Newfoundland and Labrador with five other jurisdictions that do not require sick notes. So far, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec have also adopted the move, according to a report from CBC.
Steve Major, president, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, welcomed the development.
“Physicians in this province commend the government of Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly Minister Dempster and Premier Furey, for removing the requirement for sick notes from the Labour Standards Act. The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association has been advocating for this change since the early 2000s and we applaud the Furey government for listening to doctors,” he said.
“By removing sick notes from the Labour Standards Act, doctors will spend less time on inefficient administrative processes and have more time to spend providing care to patients that need medical attention. This will also reduce inappropriate utilization of emergency departments, reduce unnecessary costs to the health care system and will reduce wait times for patients who need medical intervention.”
However, the change does not restrict an employer’s right to establish their own sick leave requirements and policies, according to the provincial government.
Ottawa doctors are facing increased pressure as public servants seek medical notes to support requests for work-from-home accommodations, according to a previous report.
