PEI's Minister of Health said he supports the idea of removing the medical certificate requirement from the province's Employment Standards Act. (Getty Images – image credit)
Island workers whose employers require them to submit medical conditions to take sick leave could have that requirement removed from state law as early as this fall.
Green Party MLA Matt MacFarlane said on Friday that changes to the Employment Standards Act would be a small step towards easing administrative burdens on frontline health workers.
It also eliminates the need for other PEI employees to wait in a doctor's office or emergency room for a medical certificate if they are too ill to work.
During question period in Parliament on Friday, Mr MacFarlane asked Health Minister Mark MacLean whether he supported removing the employer sick leave option set out in the province's Employment Standards Act.
“I don’t think many employers would require this. [sick notes] “I won't anymore,” McClain replied, “but if they do, I'll definitely support their removal.”
The Employment Standards Act allows employers to require workers to submit a medical report after being sick for three consecutive days, but it is up to individual employers to decide whether to implement such a policy. There is.
According to state law, “an employer may require an employee to submit a statement signed by a physician certifying that the employee is unable or unable to work due to illness or injury. ”.
Mr MacFarlane said he was asking questions of the Progressive Conservative government about issues related to recruitment and retention of health workers. But he said reducing the need for doctors and nurses to write out medical records would be a small step toward easing their workload.
He said he has heard from ER doctors that not a day goes by without someone waiting in the emergency room just to get a medical note.
“We don't build policy with the possibility of people abusing something,” says Green Party MLA who is calling on the PC government to remove language about sick notes from P.E.I.'s Employment Standards Act. Matt McFarlane says.
“We don't build policy with the possibility of people abusing something in mind,” says Green Party MLA Matt, who is calling on the PC government to remove language about sick notes from P.E.I.'s Employment Standards Act.・Mr. MacFarlane says. (Ken Linton/CBC)
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“As the saying goes, it's low-hanging fruit,” MacFarlane said. “Let’s take a look at some of the more familiar and simpler issues that are putting a strain on doctors and nurses, and alleviate the lives and current burdens on health care workers.”
He added that such small steps do not detract from “addressing some of the more systemic challenges” facing health care on the island.
Let's look at some of the more obvious and simple issues that are putting a strain on doctors and nurses. — Green Party MLA Matt MacFarlane
On Friday, the health minister said he would not amend the law to remove language about medical conditions, but would support anything that would ease the administrative burden on doctors.
MacFarlane said he was encouraged by MacLean's comments and said taking action could free up more time to treat patients.
As for employers, the Green MLA said workplace policies should be based on trusting employees.
“We don't build our policies around the possibility that people will take advantage of something,” MacFarlane said. “If someone is sick enough to be unable to go to work after a certain period of time, they are likely to see a doctor anyway and take that opportunity to recover and receive treatment.
“We can provide notes during that consultation process.”