MAHC WILL NO LONGER ‘SUPPORT STAFF RETIREMENT PARTIES’ — AMID SOME WORKERS’ UNREST AND AS HOSPITALS GRAPPLE WITH EVER-PRESENT BED-FUNDING CONCERNS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — As hospitals grapple with bed funding, new staff concerns about a long-standing policy of supporting worker retirement recognition and celebrations has led to changes by MAHC.
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare issued a statement, Jan. 29, to all staff from human resources re: Retirement Policy “… ensuring employees are well-informed of their responsibilities and entitlements upon retirement….”
A copy of that correspondence was sent to MuskokaTODAY.com
“I got this from 2 separate staff members,” writes a person not authorized to speak on it and who added: “They (staff) have apparently created a petition.”
The revised modification, effective March 1, comes as two more long-time — and no doubt deserving — staff were recognized internally with hospital funding apparently from MAHC.
A cake was part of that staff gathering. No other details were available.
Not an uncommon practice for many small businesses, large companies and public institutions.
The HR notice says in part “… To ensure conscientious fiscal management, we are discontinuing our financial support of retirement celebrations effective March 1, 2026. On that date, the policy will be revised and re-posted with no reference to funding for retirement celebrations. Our unions have been notified of this upcoming practice change. Until March 1, 2026, the current policy remains in effect.”
However, concerns were expressed by staff over the long-standing policy, which is “available on our DMS for viewing,” says the HR staff memo.
A search on MAHC’S website for its old HR policy online today was unsuccessful.
And we were unable to reach HR for further comment early Friday afternoon.
The unrest comes as some staff openly remain worried about present ongoing healthcare challenges involving two new hospitals planned for Muskoka. And work life changes through and coming out of COVID.
Some of it, said the source, resulting in the removal of obstetric services in south Muskoka and what they claimed to be “terrible morale under their (lack of) leadership.”
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