Single Site Order to Expire | BC Nurses' Union

October 20, 2022

Staffing restrictions at facilities to be fully lifted at end of year

The BC government will be rescinding the single site order that was implemented by the Provincial Health Officer in April 2020 as a strategy to help control the spread of COVID-19. The order restricted movement of employees who held positions in more than one worksite by assigning them to work at a single site in certain areas of the health sector including long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and provincial mental health facilities.

This week, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the single site order will end on Dec. 31, 2022.

Employers are compiling lists of impacted employees and will have joint meetings with respective unions to discuss processes and plans for the end of the single site orders. Those who will be most significant impacted by the change to the single site order include:

Multi-site employees: anyone who holds a position from which they are currently on a COVID leave, since 2020 when the single site order was implemented.
Anyone working greater than 1.0 FTE at straight time: with the end to single site orders, those working greater than 1.0 FTE will return to regular contract language, with OT rates applied accordingly.
People holding temporary positions: An expectation from the unions that all temporary positions related to single site orders will be reposted at the end of this process.
Rotations: Likelihood of impact or changes to rotations, if you have concerns about the rotation or potential rotation changes, please bring concerns forward to your employer.
Wage Leveling: The unions continue to advocate for wage leveling, the Ministry of Health has made statements to continue wage leveling in independent and publicly funded sites. Members should see no disruption in wages. Please see page 31 of the BC Human Resources Strategy Plan.

In addition, discussions with the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) will be occurring regularly. The goal is to have the least possible disruption and protect BCNU members' job security rights. Members who hold positions at multiple sites should expect to be contacted by their employer in the coming weeks.

BCNU will continue to communicate with stewards and members as more information become available.