‘Cruel hoax’: Newfoundland healthcare staff decry fake paid day off

For years healthcare staff in Newfoundland and Labrador have felt overworked and underappreciated, with turnover, burnout and thinning resources pushing the sector to a breaking point. So when an email titled “June Holiday” arrived in thousands of inboxes, thanking employees for hundreds of hours of mandatory overtime to implement a new digital platform called CorCare and promising a paid day off, it raised hopes.

Recipients were told to click a link to register; the message came from an outside domain, remailmail.com. The following day staff were informed the message — and the promised paid vacation day — were part of an internal cybersecurity test to track who clicked the link.

One union president said he and others were “disgusted” at the “cruel hoax” that targeted fatigued workers. Jerry Earle added: “Our members deserve better than to be taunted with the promise of a day off after the incredible amount of work and sacrifice they made to get CorCare up and running,” and said at least one person had quit after the email.

Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador

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