Health experts: Sick notes ban welcome step, but far from paid sick days needed in Ontario

April 24, 2024, Toronto, ON –  The Ontario government announced today that it is amending the Employment Standards Act to prohibit employers from requiring sick notes when workers need to access the provincially-mandated three unpaid sick days.

This is a long-overdue reversal after their government rolled back a similar ban on sick notes — which health providers in our network had tirelessly advocated for — in 2018.

Despite today’s announcement being a step in the right direction, it is far from an adequate paid sick days policy that would truly alleviate the unnecessary strain on our already strained healthcare system.

Without 10 paid sick days, workers cannot stay home when sick or access medical care when they need it. This often results in patients presenting at the emergency department with more complex illnesses adding burden and costs to the healthcare system. 

With potential measles outbreaks and increased hospitalization from COVID-19, workers still do not have the tools to protect themselves and their families from infectious diseases.

We are looking to the Ontario government to heed the evidence and introduce permanent paid sick days legislation immediately. 

Health workers from the Decent Work and Health Network are available for comment. 

To arrange interviews, contact:
Sarah Shahid
Coordinator, Decent Work and Health Network
[email protected] | 514-415-4666

About the organization:

The Decent Work and Health Network is a group of health providers advocating for improving working conditions to help protect and promote the health of our patients. The network includes doctors, nurses, health workers, and experts who have been leading voices for paid sick days as an urgent evidence-based public health measure.

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Background

• In 2018, the Ford government canceled the 2 permanent paid sick days that workers in Ontario had won. This legislation included provisions that prevented employers from requesting sick notes.
• At the same time, Premier Ford also canceled the scheduled $15/hr minimum wage, which he was forced to bring back in 2022 due to pressure from workers.
• The Ford government’s decision on banning sick notes comes after years of advocacy from health providers in our network, and on the heels of significant pushback from major health organizations.
• Lack of paid sick days has led to deadly workplace outbreaks during the pandemic, disproportionately impacting workers in precarious employment.
• The Ford government voted against paid sick days legislation over 27 times during the pandemic.
• Over 80% of Ontarians support paid sick days. 
• There is overwhelming evidence that accessible paid sick days legislation saves lives, improves vaccination rates and effectively curbs the spread of infectious diseases. See this report for more.

Paid sick days legislation across Canada

• Federal - 10 permanent paid sick days for federally regulated employees
• BC - 5 permanent paid sick days
• QC - 2 permanent paid sick days
• PEI - 1 paid sick day after 5 years of continuous employment with the same employer
• YT - 40 hours of government paid sick leave, until March 2025
• ON - 0 paid sick days