CMA urges employers to eliminate sick note requirements

October 28, 2024 TruthUSA

The Canadian Medical Association is advocating for the elimination of sick note requirements imposed by companies on employees with short-term minor illnesses.

According to the association, this initiative has the potential to reduce as many as 12.5 million unnecessary health-care interactions in a single year.

CMA president Dr. Joss Reimer emphasizes that sick notes are more of a human resources issue rather than a health systems issue.

The association argues that sick notes add an unnecessary administrative burden on physicians and divert attention away from patient care.

In a newly released position paper, the CMA is urging for legislative changes to limit the need for sick notes and promote alternatives like self-certification and flexible leave policies.

This proposed change aims to alleviate the administrative workload on health care providers and enhance patients’ access to care, ultimately improving the efficiency of the health care system.