CBC: Health care workers call on Doug Ford government to reinstate paid sick days

CBC News spoke to doctors and nurses with the Decent Work and Health Network during our Flu Fighter outreach blitz for paid sick days. Read the article here.

A group of doctors and nurses gathered in the rain near the Ontario Legislature on Monday to demand that the Doug Ford government bring back paid sick days.

The health professionals, members of the advocacy group Decent Work and Health Network, said the province should reinstate paid sick days ahead of what is expected to be a severe flu season. They also called on the province to scrap rules that allow employers to demand sick notes from workers.

“We see this is a huge risk to public health,” said Carolina Jimenez, a registered nurse and network organizer.

“Workers need to be able to stay at home if they are sick. But right now, we know that workers are going to work sick because they cannot afford to take the day off work …  And this is going to be a huge risk especially for the flu season that we know is going to be quite harsh,” she said.

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Policy needed to prevent spread of flu, ER doctor says

Kate Hayman, an emergency room doctor and a network member, said the flu can last much longer than two days and good government policy is needed to prevent it from spreading.

“We are getting prepared right now for one of the worst flu seasons we have ever experienced. We’re preparing for a huge influx of patients. The emergency departments have been more crowded than ever this year as well,” she said.

“We know that paid sick days are a really important public health measure to stop the spread of the flu. People who have paid sick days are more likely to actually get the flu shot,” Hayman added.

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Read the full article on CBC News.