Santé Québec

Health ministry announces grace period for staff with two jobs

Health ministry announces grace period for staff with two jobs

Ruby Pratka, LJI reporter

editor@qctonline.com

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has put the brakes on a plan that would have required some health workers holding multiple jobs to pick just one and have their hours reduced as a result.

Dozens of health and social services facilities and regional centres across the province are in the process of merging into a single entity, Santé Québec. Workers cannot work a total of more than 40 hours a week for a single employer without getting paid overtime; as a result, employees with two or more jobs who work a total of more than 40 hours per week in the health system were told they could no longer do so. “As of Dec. 1, 2024, you will not be able to maintain an assignment or position in more than one establishment if the total hours of the assignments or positions per pay period exceed the equivalent of full time,” reads a letter dated Nov. 8, shared with the QCT by one of the affected employees.

About 1,300 employees across the province work multiple jobs totalling over 40 hours per week, many of them in relatively low-paid roles. As the QCT and other media outlets reported last week, the announcement was panic-inducing for people who rely on the extra income to pay down debt, raise children on their own or support family members overseas.

On Nov. 20, Santé Québec CEO Geneviève Biron announced that a one-year transition period would be put in place to allow “double- employed” workers to find solutions.

“We are grateful to these employees for their contribution and want to take the time to support them. In the context of a labour shortage and high demand for services, this transition period will al- low the employees concerned to continue their services to users and reduce the pressure on staff. Santé Québec will work with union partners to find accommodations,” Biron said in a statement. “I made a commitment to avoid wall- to-wall approaches. In recent days, I have heard the cri de coeur of several employees in a situation of double employment. I hope that we will take the time to support them and find solutions for the benefit of users and staff. In the coming months, Santé Québec will support the employees concerned to find solutions adapted to their situation while ensuring the safety of users and teams.”

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Workers to lose second jobs amid Santé Québec restructuring

Local Journalism Initiative / The Quebec Chronicle Telegraph / November 20, 2024 / Quebec City, Ruby Pratka, Santé Québec

Workers to lose second jobs amid Santé Québec restructuring

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Some employees in the public health system who work more than one job have been told they will have to choose just one as of Dec. 1, due to the Quebec government’s decision to create a single employer (Santé Québec) for the entire public health sector.

“As of Dec. 1, 2024, you will not be able to maintain an assignment or position in more than one establishment if the total hours of the assignments or positions per pay period exceed the equivalent of full time,” reads a letter dated Nov. 8, shared with the QCT by one of the affected employees. In practice, this means employees won’t be able to work over 40 hours a week across more than one health facility.

Laura* has held down two full-time jobs at two different Quebec City-area hospitals since 2019. “I work full-time Monday to Friday … and then at night I work at [another hospital],” she said. “I’m very used to it. … I want to work, but they’re telling me I can’t work two jobs.”

Lucie Gamache is the president of the Syndicat des Travailleuses et Travailleurs du CIUSSS de la Capitale- Nationale (STT-CIUSSSCN) which represents care aides, maintenance and supply shop workers and some administrative and technical staff across the institutions of the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale. She said about 130 of the union’s members are in situations similar to Laura’s. Most are in relatively low-paid roles.

“One employer … can’t give two positions for a total of more than 40 hours a week to one person,” she said. “It’s sad, but it’s the law, it’s the Labour Standards Act. Even if we tried to fight it, we can’t go against the law. It’s out of our hands.

“Unfortunately, that’s how fusions have always worked,” she added, alluding to the fusions of health institutions a decade ago that created the current CIUSSS system. “We understand it’s not fun – I wouldn’t be happy if it were me.”

Gamache said employees who want or need to work more hours can pick up extra hours replacing colleagues who are on leave. “We have such a lack of personnel that if [workers] apply for replacements, they’ll get hours,” she said. “We’re telling them not to worry about that.”

That was small consolation to Laura. “For me, it’s a big loss to lose one job,” she said. “I just got a new car, so I have to get another job to pay it off.”

She has considered taking her employer to court to try to keep both of her jobs, but decided against it. “I don’t have the income to pay for my immediate needs, and getting a lawyer will get me even more into debt,” she said. “I have my hands tied, and I can’t help anyone else if I can’t help myself.”

No one from the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale was able to comment at press time.

*The employee’s name has been changed to protect her privacy and job security.

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