The new Santé Québec health authority announced Wednesday it will give workers who clock extra hours in multiple hospitals an extra year to adjust to new rules limiting hours to 40 per week.
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The decision comes after The Gazette revealed that Santé Québec, which will bring the province’s hospitals and clinics under a single employer on Dec. 1, planned to slash these workers’ hours with its restructuring, requiring most to choose a single job by the end of November.
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Initially, the agency said the move was necessary to comply with labour laws regarding overtime pay. However, in a statement on Wednesday, Santé Québec CEO Geneviève Biron said she reconsidered the changes, emphasizing a more flexible approach.
“In recent days, I have heard the heartfelt cry of many employees in dual employment situations. I hope that we give ourselves the time to support them and find solutions for the benefit of users and staff,” Biron said.
As part of a sweeping restructuring set to take effect on Dec. 1, the entire health and social services network will report to Santé Québec. The organization pledged on Wednesday to work closely with affected employees to craft tailored solutions while ensuring the safety of both users and staff.
Santé Québec did not provide any more details Wednesday about the extension.
The union representing the largest group of Quebec health-care workers praised the move Wednesday evening.
“We welcome the decision of the CAQ and Santé Québec to respond favourably to the request of the CSN health and social services federation to grant a reprieve to these workers whose income is low,” said Réjean Leclerc, president of the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS-CSN). “The ill-advised choice of the CAQ and Santé Québec created drama in addition to depriving the public network of human resources essential to its proper functioning.”
Leclerc criticized the government for failing to consult unions before imposing the directive, adding: “We could have warned them of the unfortunate consequences of their unilateral decision and worked with them to find suitable solutions.”
The union told The Gazette last week that forcing workers to cut hours on short notice could further strain the health system, increasing costs or jeopardizing patient care if staffing gaps aren’t filled.
“Our concern is that this will result in hours or positions being cut, and it is essential for these to be replaced and covered appropriately to ensure the continuation of our services,” the union said to The Gazette.
The union said it was advised that a “few thousand” workers across all job titles in the health-care system are affected by the changes, but Santé Québec said its latest analysis suggested 1,307 employees are affected. Front-line workers, including nurses, are among them, The Gazette confirmed.
Despite the extension, opposition voices say the policy’s underlying issues remain unresolved.
“This isn’t a solution; it’s simply postponing the problem,” said Quebec Liberal Party health critic André Fortin. “In a year’s time, we won’t be able to do without these workers. A lasting solution must be found.”
For workers like Mike Bonarrigo, a warehouse keeper managing inventory at Lachine Hospital who relies on extra shifts at LaSalle Hospital to support his three children, the extension offers temporary relief but no permanent fix.
“This news is good for now, as it eases the pressure of finding a second job so close to the holidays,” Bonarrigo said. “But I still don’t agree with the restriction. If there’s a position to be filled, why not let us take it?
“It makes more sense to keep experienced employees rather than hire someone new who might need more training. I hope this policy is reconsidered in the future.”
