B.C. doctors create template letter to replace sick notes

Family doctors frustrated with writing sick notes have created a template letter for patients to give to their employers, explain‐ ing that sick notes place an unnecessary burden on physicians during an on‐ going primary-care crisis.

They are also calling on the province to restrict when and how employers can ask for sick notes.

The template, addressed "Dear Employer" and signed by the B.C. Family Doctors or‐ ganization and the B.C. Col‐ lege of Family Physicians, be‐ gins with the line: "Please treat this letter as a sick note."

It goes on to say doctors are experiencing increasing workloads and burnout, and need to focus on medical care.

"An appointment with a family doctor is a precious re‐ source," said B.C. Family Doc‐ tors president Tahmeena Ali, adding that the template, created in February, was drafted "to send a message that sick notes are unneces‐ sary."

Doctors' groups have been speaking out against sick notes since at least 2014.

Many family doctors spend between 20 and 30 per cent of their day doing paperwork, Ali says, and fill‐ ing out sick notes only adds to that.

Ali said it can also put a large burden on the patient. Because sick notes are not covered under health care, patients often have to pay out of pocket, with the typical cost being around $50.

WATCH | Some B.C. doc‐ tors want an end to sick notes:

Also, having to leave the house to get a note does not allow the sick person to rest, Ali said, and the task is made even more difficult for those who don't have a family doc‐ tor and have to wait in walkin clinics.

"A person who feels under the weather - the last thing they want to do is possibly get on a bus, or into their ve‐ hicle, or ask someone for a ride to go to their doctors of‐ fice," said Ali.

"You're putting other peo‐ ple at risk, as well as your health-care provider."

As of 2023, employers in Nova Scotia are only allowed to request a sick note if the absence is more than five consecutive work days.

New legislation in Ontario, meanwhile, will force em‐ ployers to scrap sick notes for the three days of provin‐ cially mandated annual sick leave.

In a statement sent to

CBC News, B.C.'s Ministry of Labour said employers are able to request "reasonably sufficient proof" of illness, but are encouraged to be thoughtful about when they request sick notes.

It did not respond to questions about whether it is considering legislation to ban or restrict asking for sick notes.