Health Care Member Wins Back Wages After Hours Investigation

A Health Care sector member in Kelowna has won 26-hours backpay after a successful investigation into their entitled hours of work was conducted. As a result, she was paid around $500 in wages for hours she should have been scheduled but was not.

This is how the process works. When a CHW in Kelowna is short on hours, they will fill out an “Hours Investigation Form” that goes to their Shop Steward (Note: in some agencies the Hours Investigation forms are handed in to the workers supervisor or Nurse Leader). For example, if a member who works 40-hour weeks has less than 40 hours, they would fill out the Hours Investigation Sheet, give it to the Shop Steward. The Shop Steward then investigates all schedules of workers who worked on the day in question. 

If a worker with less seniority has been scheduled hours when a more senior employee is available to work, then the senior employee should be paid for those hours. This of course is providing that there were no refusals, or “valid” reasons for not doing so. Also, if the employee is not paid in a timely fashion, it is pursued until they are.

“It’s important our Health Care members are aware of this right and that UFCW 1518 members fill out an ‘Hours Investigation Form’ if they believe their employer has scheduled them improperly,” says Ivan Limpright, President of UFCW 1518. “Hours investigations have proved to be successful for many union members and this is just one example of many.” 

Please remember that your Shop Steward can help you fill out these forms, and answer questions and concerns.

Remember, if something seems wrong with your hours, it probably is!