UNA and AHS reach agreement for Workplace Harassment and Abuse concerns involving physician abuse

A new agreement reached by United Nurses of Alberta and Alberta Health Services aims to modernize the process available to nurses filing Workplace Harassment and Abuse concerns involving physician abuse.

In response to a presentation by UNA Occupational Health & Safety Advisor Dewey Funk to AHS and Medical Affairs, AHS has agreed interim measures are required to address nurses’ concerns and that an alignment of process for these types of complaints needs to be created.

In a letter dated March 3, 2022, AHS agreed to a series of interim measures to address these types of concerns, including:

• Directing AHS staff requesting information about the complaint process to the applicable human resources and medical staff concerns consultants for the area or matter to provide information and answer specific questions.
• Partnering human resource business partners and medical staff concerns consultants for all worker-to-worker Type III harassment matters that involve a physician.
• Ensuring any complaints with an employee complainant will have HRBP on the investigation panel.
• Ensuring complainants are always interviewed as part of an investigative process and are offered union representation for all meetings or proceedings.

AHS has committed to deliver recommendations and work with UNA to create an implementation plan by June 30, 2022.