Doctors at a medical clinic in Pemberton are handing out letters instead of sick notes, asking employers to stop requiring sick notes and wasting peoplesa国际传媒檚 time.

Local resident Becca Moriarty, 26, posted a photo of the letter to her Facebook page this week, after going in to get a sick note for her boss.

The letter says a policy requiring a sick note for missed time puts an sa国际传媒渁dded burdensa国际传媒� on the healthcare system, taking up resources that could be used on people are who actually ill.

sa国际传媒淧eople seeking sick notes sa国际传媒� who otherwise wouldnsa国际传媒檛 see a doctor sa国际传媒� end up in physicianssa国际传媒� offices, walk-in clinics and emergency department waiting rooms,sa国际传媒� it says. sa国际传媒淭here, they may spread germs to pregnant women, frail elderly people, cancer patients and babies sa国际传媒� all of whom are vulnerable to communicable disease.sa国际传媒�

It also says the doctors find it difficult to charge someone for a requirement from their employer, since sick notes arensa国际传媒檛 insured by MSP, and gives the employer a warning: continue to require medical notes and be prepared to receive a $50 invoice for each one.

sa国际传媒淎s Canadian residents, we are lucky to have our healthcare system, but citizenssa国际传媒� inability to access the systems services in a timely fashion is a growing problem,sa国际传媒� the letter says. sa国际传媒淚 hope you will consider changing your current absenteeism policy to help reduce the unnecessary burden on our health-care system and improve access for all British Columbians.sa国际传媒�

When she handed the letter to her boss, she said the reaction was sa国际传媒渃omplete confusion.sa国际传媒�

Moriarty sa国际传媒� who works in the food industry sa国际传媒� added she sees both sides to the issue of sick notes.

sa国际传媒淚 understand the employer needs to know, but that comes down to: wesa国际传媒檙e adults, this isnsa国际传媒檛 school anymore, I donsa国际传媒檛 need a note from my mom saying Isa国际传媒檓 not going to be at school,sa国际传媒� she said, adding shesa国际传媒檇 much rather be at work making money than sick at home.

A person who answered the phone at the clinic said the doctors do not wish to be interviewed.