Remote health-care workers in Winnipeg told to prepare to spend more time in the office

Remote health-care workers in Winnipeg have been told they need to prepare to spend more time in the office come this summer.

In staff memos sent Monday, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority CEO Mike Nader and Shared Health CEO Lanette Siragusa said all employees who are eligible for remote work will need to complete at least half of their working hours in-person starting in July.

The changes align with ones made by Crown corporations and other public sector organizations, the memos say, and the advance notice is being given to provide employees with time to make adjustments before July.

"Although I appreciate that this change may be disruptive, it is my hope that you will see value in coming together as teams to collaborate, plan and prioritize our work, while still retaining the potential to work remotely," both memos say.

Shared Health's memo adds the direction only applies to staff who live in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, which includes surrounding municipalities.

Shared Health got into hot water last December after internal documents showed the organization had spent more than $1 million in annual rent for two large office spaces left unoccupied.

The documents also showed 64 per cent of Shared Health's downtown Winnipeg staff were primarily working from home, which was higher than most other provincially funded workplaces.

At the time, the WRHA said 60 per cent of its employees at 650 Main St. were in the office at least one day a week, based on a recent snapshot. The health authority said it couldn't classify the remaining 40 per cent because of variations in schedules. 

Could bring unintended consequences: union

Jason Linklater, president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, described the memos as "sweeping edicts" that could have unintended consequences, especially in specialized areas such as allied health.

He said managers are better prepared to make changes to their staffing situations with their patients' interest in mind, and need to maintain flexibility in order to retain staff.

"Managers should be empowered to make these decisions for their areas, with meaningful consultation of all parties affected," Linklater said in a Tuesday statement to CBC.