'We're not your sick day police': Ottawa family doctors express frustration with employers requiring COVID sick notes
Family physicians in the Ottawa area say they feel like the "sick day police" as they see an increase in patients testing positive for COVID-19 requesting a sick note to submit to their employer for time off.
In a post on Twitter on Sunday, Dr. Nicole Shadbolt said that the Ottawa Hospital is now requiring a note and form completed for any staff missing work for viral symptoms.
"Unnecessary added work for family docs. We're not your sick day police," Dr. Shadbolt said in the viral post.
The Ottawa Hospital tells Newstalk 580 CFRA that the hospital has required sick notes after a "certain number of days for a while."
"It allows hospitals to ensure staff are receiving active treatment and helps them support a safe and timely return to work," TOH spokesperson Michaela Schreiter said in an email. "I know we extended the number of days to six because of the way COVID often plays out."
In response to Dr. Shadbolt's tweet, emergency room doctor Dr. Atul Kapur noted the Ottawa Hospital has been requiring sick notes from employees for many years.
"Including sending many employees to the emergency department for unnecessary added work," Kapur said.
Speaking on Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron, Carleton Place family physician Dr. Christine Tai said after a break from having to provide doctor's notes for illnesses during the first two years of the pandemic, doctors are starting to see an increase in requests.
"The usefulness of having family doctors providing the admin support to prove that people are unwell for mild viral illnesses that we're not intervening for is questionable," said Dr. Tai, who is the Ontario Medical Association District 8 Chair.
"Having family doctors policing sick days to prove that somebody is unwell at the time that they say for something where they should be tucked into bed with a bowl of a chicken soup is not all that helpful I would think.
"Family doctors are already extremely overwhelmed by everything else happening in the community."
Dr. Tai says the Ottawa Hospital is not the only large employer now requiring employees to require sick notes for COVID-19 illnesses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.
Air Canada ranks near bottom on customer satisfaction: survey
Air Canada ranks below most other major North American airlines on customer satisfaction, with airfares a particular sore point, according to a new survey.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.