The Canadian Medical Association thinks doctors’ notes for short-term illness are an "inefficient use of scarce health care resources" and you should only go to the doctor for a diagnosis or medical help.
Frank Wright with Unifor represents 19 union locals, with varying sick-leave policies.
Some employers have the right to request sick note after one sick day, others after two, three or five days.
He said employers tend to look at each individual case to determine whether they actually ask for a note or not.
Dr. Tim Ross said doctors’ notes for short-term illness are absurd, waste time and cost taxpayers money.
He saw 35 patients Jan. 8, with three of those for sick notes. He doesn't blame those patients but wishes he could have seen three more sick people instead.
The patient pays for the doctor’s note, and usually they are better when they get an appointment and can only describe the symptoms they used to have.
Dr. Ross can't verify that a patient used to be sick but has been put in a policing position for employers.
He said some company's sick forms are cumbersome and confusing so he has to charge more for his time, and sometimes patients have to return several times to have the form filled to the company's exact requirements and that costs the patient time.
