Questions and answers: Employee worksite preference during COVID-19
REGISTER YOUR WORKSITE PREFERENCE AT WWW.BCHEALTHSTAFFING.CA
** REGISTRATION WEBSITE REOPENED FOR 6-10 PM MONDAY MARCH 30 **
I work full time at one site, but am on the casual list at another site, where I haven’t worked a shift in months. Do I have to select a preference?
Since you appear on both employee lists, you should register your preference, so that the Provincial Health Office will take this into consideration when making staff assignments to workplaces.
Is my Social Insurance Number secure on the website?
The privacy and security of employee’s personal information will be strictly protected. The data will be reviewed by BC Health Staffing for the purpose of informing the Provincial Health Officer’s decisions about assigning health care workers to work at a single site.
The email said I only have until 5 p.m. today to make my selection. I need more time.
The Provincial Health Officer has ordered that employees have only until 5 p.m., Sunday March 29 to select their preference. There will be no extension of the deadline. If you have a preference, you are encouraged to register it as soon as possible.
Will this affect where I work long term?
This order and related orders will be effect as long as necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We cannot predict how long that will be, but you should anticipate disruption to your regular schedule for some time.
My job involves me visiting multiple sites to deliver specialized care. If I am limited to one worksite, patients will go without critical care, and their health will be compromised.
HSA understands the critical services of health science professionals, and the impact that such an order could have on patient care.
HSA has alerted the Medical Health Officers, who have the authority to exempt certain groups from being restricted from working at multiple sites, to take into consideration the implication of denying services to patients as a consequence of the Order.
Anyone who is not covered by the exemptions must register to indicate their worksite preference, Exempted groups are:
1. Physicians,
2. Resident Physicians,
3. Nurse practitioners,
4. Paramedics,
5. Delivery persons,
6. Trades people,
7. Visitors, or
8. Any other class of person exempted by the Provincial Health Officer
I need both the jobs I have at different sites to maintain my family’s income.
HSA and other unions have been working to ensure members do not experience loss of income as a result of the Provincial Health Officer’s order. Employers are to make efforts to ensure employees continue to work the same FTE they worked prior to the change, and all employees will be encouraged to maximize their hours.
I’m a casual. Does this order apply to me?
Yes. This order applies to everyone who works in health care, with some exemptions listed above.
When does this all got into effect? When will I know where I have been assigned to work?
The information from members, employers, contractors, and subcontractors is being collected until 5 p.m., Sunday, March 29. The Provincial Health Office anticipates being able to make staffing allocation decisions by Thursday, April 2. We will keep members up-to-date as quickly as possible.
Please check back on the HSA website frequently, and watch your email inbox. If you are not receiving information from HSA, please update your contact information by sending an up-to-date personal email addres to @email, or update your contact information here: https://hsabc.org/contact/member-contact-update-form
What happens to all my pre-booked shifts?
Staff are anticipated to work all scheduled shifts, and the goal is to maintain at least the current maximum hours.
I work jobs in two different Health Authorities. Do I get to choose which Health Authority I work for?
The preference selection is worksite based.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE HSA COVID-19 HOTLINE AT @email
REGISTER YOUR WORKSITE PREFERENCE AT WWW.BCHEALTHSTAFFING.CA
BY 5 PM, SUNDAY MARCH 29