Quebec to End Practice Allowing Healthcare Workers to Hold Multiple Full-Time Jobs
Montreal - Quebec’s healthcare system is poised to eliminate a longstanding practice that allowed employees to together hold multiple full-time positions within the public network, a move sparking concern among workers facing potential financial hardship. The change, shrouded in secrecy according to the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du québec (FIQ), comes as the province grapples with ongoing staffing shortages and seeks to streamline its workforce.
The shift impacts employees like Lahcene Lehchili, a 54-year-old administrative agent who currently works full-time at two different centres d’hébergement de soins de longue durée (CHSLDs) in Montreal, a situation he began publicly voicing concerns about in November 2024.”I’m going to be on the street! I lose my house, I lose everything!” Lehchili told The Press last fall, fearing the financial consequences of being forced to relinquish one of his positions.
Lehchili, who lives in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines in the Laurentians, currently works from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at one CHSLD and then from 3:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at another. He described his dual employment as a necessity, stating, “My two jobs, it’s not for luxury. I really live drip. I just manage to pay everything and it stops there.” He and his family are now preparing to sell their home and relocate to an apartment in Montreal.
Santé Québec has indicated that employees facing reduced hours will be offered overtime opportunities within their chosen facility. They are encouraged to monitor internal job postings and discuss options with their managers or human resources departments. However, Lehchili questioned his future prospects, asking, “I’m 54 years old. Who will commit me to do something else?”
The FIQ criticized the lack of openness surrounding the decision, stating in an email, “Health Quebec and the government are dealing with this dossier in the most complete mystery, for reasons that sometimes escape us.” The move signals a broader effort to consolidate resources and potentially redirect personnel to areas of critical need within the province’s healthcare network.
