The Medical Association is echoing concerns recently raised by NAPE, asking employers not to require sick notes from employees who are out for an extended time due to illness.

The NLMA has taken that position since 2014. It says that asking workers to get a sick note from their doctor increases the potential spread of infections.

The Medical Association says the situation has become even more urgent given the global spread of coronavirus.

NLMA President Dr. Charlene Fitzgerald says employers should encourage employees to stay at home when they get sick with viral illnesses in order to prevent the spread of infection to their co-workers and other patients.

Emergency rooms and medical clinics are often filled with immune-compromised patients, many of whom are elderly with chronic health conditions says Fitzgerald. Asking them to get a sick note, when they should be staying at home, puts vulnerable patients at risk.

Anyone experiencing flu symptoms following out-of-province travel is asked to call 811 and patients should also call ahead of their appointment to let their doctor know they are experiencing flu symptoms.

Department of Health Working to Find a Solution, says Health Minister

The provincial government is working to alleviate a burden for physicians and avoid a public health risk surrounding doctors’ notes.

Minister responsible for health, John Haggie, says they are aware that having people go to the doctor just to receive a sick note is creating a burden.

He was responding to NAPE’s call on the provincial government to end the need for employees to present doctors notes for sick days, especially with worries surrounding the coronavirus.

Minister Haggie says this was brought to their attention on Friday afternoon and they are working through it but there are some areas they need to look further into.

He says there are grey areas including insurance policies, disability and other institutions that have their own paperwork which would be out of their control but they are working closely with advanced skills and labour to figure out a plan.