ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The province’s largest labour union is applauding quick action on the part of the Department of Health and Community Services to abandon the need for sick notes from health-care employees who are off for three or more days.
But the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) says the measures don’t go far enough.
“We would see this as a significant first step in the right direction, but further steps must be taken,” NAPE president Jerry Earle said Tuesday.
Earle revived concerns Monday over workers being forced to obtain medical certification when they may still be sick with a short-term virus. He said with the looming threat of the COVID-19 virus, the policy poses a threat to community health.
On Tuesday, the health department announced that, following consultation with regional health authorities, regional health authority employees who are exhibiting respiratory illness symptoms will not be required to provide a sick note for absence periods of less than 14 days.
The measures take effect immediately.
“This interim decision is to reduce the risk to employees and their loved ones, as well as those they look after,” Health Minister John Haggie said in a statement, “I have full confidence in the staff of the regional health authorities. I do not expect to see an increase in sick leave arising from this change.”
Earle says the measure will create a double standard, adding that employees such as social workers will be treated differently depending on whether they work with a health authority or in some other sector.
A restaurant worker would also feel the hypocrisy, he said.
“Why should they be required to produce a medical certificate when the person inspecting the restaurant that works for government may not be?” he asked.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) also applauded the move, but expressed similar misgivings.
“Physicians would like to see this expanded to government departments and agencies in addition to the regional health authorities,” NLMA president Dr. Charlene Fitzgerald said in a statement.
Fitzgerald questioned why the change in policy is only an interim measure, when other viruses will still pose a public-health threat long after COVID-19 has come and gone.
"Influenza has been confirmed as the cause of at least three deaths the province this flu season,” she said. “So while this is a great start, we encourage government to go further, including asking the business community to follow suit.”
While worldwide cases of COVID-19 have topped 100,000 to date, there are still no known cases in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Meanwhile, the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council says it has no issues with Tuesday’s development.
However, the group says some private companies still need the right to ask for doctors’ notes as a tool to manage attendance.
“We encourage employers to be flexible and reasonable surrounding requiring notes for short-term viral illnesses and to follow recommended procedures, and certainly don’t encourage crowding doctor’s offices looking for sick notes,” the council said.
“But to eliminate the right to require doctor’s notes completely from legislation would be extreme.”
Peter Jackson is a Local Journalism Initiatve Reporter covering health care for The Telegram.