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.