No more sick notes

You may have handed in a sick note to your employer this flu season. It's a practice some bosses enforce — and most doctors loathe. 

Globe and Mail public health reporter André Picard says it's time to kill the sick note. Doctors dislike them because it's a waste of their resources, and keeps them away from patients who need treatment — patients who do not need to be exposed to the cold or flu you bring in to the waiting room while seeking a sick note. 

My view, and the view of a lot of doctors is, why make doctors truancy officers?- André Picard, The Globe and Mail

Picard points out that the best way to treat the flu is to stay home and rest, so leaving home to get a sick note defeats the purpose of calling in sick anyway. And, the extra effort could mean employees are dissuaded from taking a sick day at all, thus spreading their illness to their co-workers. 

Click the blue button above to listen to the piece.