Employers should ditch sick notes to free up physicians, save taxpayers millions: Doctors Manitoba

Physician advocacy organization, Doctors Manitoba, is urging Manitoba employers to eliminate the requirement for sick notes for short-term illnesses in order to free up physicians to focus more on patient care. Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba, highlighted that eliminating sick notes could potentially add the equivalent of 50 doctors or 300,000 more patient appointments to Manitoba’s healthcare system each year.

Desilets emphasized that the current practice of requesting sick notes not only takes valuable time away from patients but also contributes to the existing doctor shortage in Manitoba, which is the second-worst in the country. With over 600,000 sick notes requested annually in the province, many of which are deemed medically unnecessary, taxpayers are burdened with an $8 million cost each year.

The “Sick of Sick Notes” campaign, spearheaded by Doctors Manitoba, aims to make Manitoba more doctor-friendly by reducing administrative burdens. The campaign includes a website offering guidance for employers on handling short-term employee absences without requiring sick notes.

A commercial released as part of the campaign showcases the inefficiencies of the current system, where employees share personal health details with HR professionals, leading to discomfort and unnecessary medical consultations. This highlights the message that HR issues should not be sent to doctors.

Similar initiatives have been launched by other physician advocacy organizations across Canada. Doctors Manitoba previously recommended legislative changes to limit the need for sick notes in cases of employee absences lasting less than 10 days. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara confirmed that the province is considering this proposal.

Aligning with practices in other provinces, Manitoba could follow the lead of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario in revising legislation regarding sick notes. Saskatchewan also proposed amendments to restrict employers from demanding sick notes unless specific criteria are met.

Dr. Desilets emphasized the importance of establishing clear legislation to standardize approaches to legitimate cases of employee accommodations and return-to-work requests. Human resources expert Tory McNally echoed the sentiment, stating that eliminating routine sick notes fosters a more trusting and accountable workplace culture.

Several organizations, including the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, and Canada Life, have already eliminated the requirement for sick notes for short-term illnesses. The NDP government has shown a commitment to reducing paperwork for physicians, including transitioning from paper to digital medical records.

By eliminating the need for sick notes, Manitoba employers can support a more efficient healthcare system, reduce administrative burdens, and promote a healthier work environment. Doctors Manitoba continues to advocate for these changes to benefit both healthcare providers and patients in the province.