Santé Québec will extend the transition period by one year for health care workers who hold two jobs and work more than 40 hours per week.
• Also read: The PQ could take the plogue on Santé Québec
In the wake of the transition to a single employer for all network employees, those who held two jobs would have been forced to resign from one of them as of December 1 or limit their working hours to 40.
The government is therefore giving them a reprieve until December 1, 2025.
The new state-owned company justifies this decision because of the labor shortage and the high demand for services weighing on the health network.
This transition period will allow the employees concerned to continue their services to users and reduce pressure on staff.
Geneviève Biron, the president and CEO, indicated that she wanted to “avoid wall-to-wall approaches” and be sensitive to “the cry from the heart of several 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,” she added in a press release.
The president of the Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services (APTS), Robert Comeau, said he was encouraged by this decision.
“In the state of our public network, we cannot do without people ready to offer care and services to the population. We are satisfied that Santé Québec is listening to reason and extending the transition period for those holding more than one job. We are ready to work with the agency to agree on solutions that promote accessibility and quality of services,” he said in a press release.
In total, 3,034 employees currently hold two jobs in different establishments, out of a total of 330,000 workers.
Of this number, 1,307 employees work more than 40 hours per week.
Questions for Geneviève Biron:
Questions for Geneviève Biron:
1. How does Santé Québec plan to support employees who hold two jobs and work more than 40 hours per week during this extended transition period?
2. In what ways do you think the government’s decision to extend the transition period for these workers will positively impact the healthcare network?
3. As the President and CEO, what challenges do you foresee in managing a workforce that continues to hold multiple jobs within the network?
4. What measures will Santé Québec take to ensure that workers who maintain multiple jobs do not compromise the quality of care they provide to patients?
5. How do you envision the role of Santé Québec in promoting staff retention and recruitment during this period of ongoing labor shortages?
Questions for Robert Comeau:
1. As the President of APTS, what are your thoughts on the government’s decision to extend the transition period for workers with dual employment situations?
2. In what ways do you think this extension will alleviate stress and pressure on staff, particularly those who are already working long hours?
3. How do you anticipate that this change will impact the accessibility and quality of services provided to patients?
4. What are some of the unique challenges faced by healthcare workers who hold multiple jobs, and how can these issues be addressed moving forward?
5. How can the healthcare network work collaboratively to ensure that employees maintain work-life balance and avoid burnout during this extended transition period?
