Alberta Health Services is mandating some of its employees to take two unpaid days off by the end of March due to ongoing financial pressures, as per a memo obtained by CBC News. The memo, issued by Erin O’Neill, AHS senior vice-president of finance and shared services, specified that non-unionized exempt employees (NUEEs) will be affected, except for certain salary groups.
In the memo, it was highlighted that the decision was made after exploring various options and deemed necessary to fulfill financial obligations amidst budget constraints. A spokesperson from AHS confirmed that this temporary measure impacts some non-unionized staff members but did not disclose the exact number of employees required to take 15.5 hours of unpaid leave.
AHS emphasized that this initiative is a one-time occurrence and assured that patient care services will not be affected. The spokesperson, Kristi Bland, mentioned that frontline staff are not included in this measure, and efforts are being made to safeguard employees earning below a specific income threshold.
The organization did not provide details to CBC News regarding the types of positions affected or the financial savings anticipated from this action. Dr. Braden Manns, a professor of medicine and health economics at the University of Calgary, expressed understanding of the decision given the financial constraints faced by Alberta Health Services.
Before the restructuring of the healthcare system in the province, NUEEs constituted approximately 10% of AHS’s workforce, totaling around 11,000 employees, as per Manns. He estimated that the mandated unpaid leave could result in savings ranging from $8 million to $15 million for AHS.
Despite the relatively modest savings projected, Manns acknowledged that affected staff might feel disheartened, especially considering significant government expenditures on other initiatives. The ongoing restructuring of the health system by the Alberta government is further complicating the situation, with Acute Care Alberta clarifying that employees who have transitioned to new provincial health agencies are not impacted.
AHS mentioned that affected employees will have a say in scheduling their unpaid days off, aiming to minimize disruptions.
