Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This amendment is very simple. We talked earlier about difficulties caused by having to get a doctor’s note for one or two days of leave taken consecutively. Several doctors and health care professionals told us that this would create an administrative burden and force people to consult doctors, who have other things to do.
We know from the survey that was discussed today that if we create additional barriers, such as the requirement for a doctor’s note, people may not take their sick leave. Yet the whole point of this is to make sure that people who are sick stay home because of the COVID‑19 pandemic and so on.
This amendment clarifies that the employer may request a doctor’s note, but only if there are at least five consecutive days of absence for medical reasons. The original legislation states that the employer may require this doctor’s note for one or two days of leave. We believe this is excessive and that a minimum of five consecutive days would be reasonable.