White Coat, Black Art
ENCORE: The high cost of sick notes
Feb 13, 2025
Kay Dingwell, an ER physician from Summerside, PEI, passionately discusses the burdensome requirement of sick notes for minor illnesses. She highlights the frustration patients face when forced to obtain notes that doctors dislike writing. Dingwell argues that such policies overwhelm an already strained healthcare system. The conversation delves into the impact on low-wage workers, presenteeism, and the evolving legislative landscape in Canada aimed at eliminating unnecessary sick note demands. Advocating for change, she emphasizes the need for a more compassionate approach to sick leave.
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Quick takeaways
- The pressure on employees to provide sick notes for minor illnesses creates unnecessary healthcare visits, burdening both patients and providers.
- Advocates for policy change emphasize that abolishing sick notes not only supports employee well-being but also enhances public health by reducing illness spread.
Deep dives
The Burden of Sick Notes on Employees
Many employees face significant pressure to provide sick notes to their employers when they need time off due to illness. This requirement often leads workers, particularly those in low-paying and precarious jobs, to seek medical attention unnecessary for their conditions. These sick notes are seen as barriers that employers use to enforce attendance, which can discourage workers from taking needed time off to recover. As highlighted by healthcare professionals, patients would prefer to be resting at home instead of waiting in a clinic, feeling compelled to prove their sickness to their employers.
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