The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has been interpreting and applying provision #10 in the temporary Letter of Understanding (LOU) concerning COVID-19, to mean that unless a confirmed start date has been stated at the time the offer of employment is accepted, the commencement of the new position can be postponed indefinitely. 

This appears to be happening only in critical care units with the SHA taking the position that the successful applicant is needed in the critical care area and will not be released to start their new position until a replacement has been hired or, in some cases, for an indefinite period of time. 
 
SUN does not believe the intent of provision #10 in the temporary LOU was to allow the SHA to prohibit SUN members from applying for or accepting new positions - any decisions to delay commencement must be reasonable.
 
SUN is recommending to members applying for a new position, that before you accept the new position you request a confirmed start date that is acceptable to you. 
 
It is important to remember that the SHA continues to have a duty to accommodate SUN members based on a variety of grounds, including disability and family status, and that a reasonable accommodation may prohibit the SHA from delaying the commencement date in a new position. 
 
If you have any questions please contact SUN Provincial's Duty Roster.

 

Do you have questions for SUN's EROs/NPOs?

Contact Duty Roster @
Regina                                                         Saskatoon
1-800-667-7060                                           1-800-667-3294
regina@sun-nurses.sk.ca                            saskatoon@sun-nurses.sk.ca