Like COVID-19 David S. Landsman is one of Quebec’s lauded “guardian angels” in healthcare who have rushed to the front lines.
The sequence was deployed from his position in a psychiatric unit at a Montreal hospital and leaving his other job to work in a long-term care home at the western end of the city. The Landsman was there for more than two months in the spring of 2020 with volunteers and military members.
Every day, he exfoliates, wears personal protective equipment and helps as he experiences some of the worst moments in the lives of seniors and their families.
Landsman is both a caregiver and a witness. In one example, a health care worker clasped the hand of a healthy and independent 90-year-old man as he struggled to breathe while his family sobbed goodbye to Korea on a tablet. The resident was in good condition until he contracted COVID. He died within a week.
Employers improve recruitment plans to meet the demand for talent, the need for hybrid jobs
The Landsman often holds the patient’s hand like a loved one, barred entry to long-term care homes, and speaks to them one last time from a distance. It’s another world.
“To this day, I have this PTSD nightmare when I come back home and wander the halls,” says Landsman. “And I heard someone say ‘bro, man,’ and when we went into the room, they said ‘Can you prop my pillow?’
“Because that’s all we can do. You know, we couldn’t give them more oxygen because they were on their way out. “
Once Landsman’s rollout was over, he was given a short break before returning to his shift at the hospital. But the deaths of the patients and their pain remained with him. He was exhausted from it all. On top of that, his hours are all over the place and he’s starting to feel like a number.
“I didn’t feel anything special,” Landsman said. “I feel like I can spend it.”
Landsman is one of those who changed jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. With his first child coming soon, he has found a new opportunity in November 2021 where he will not only feel appreciated but also be able to spend time with his wife and daughter.
He took on the role of patient care coordinator at a dental clinic, much closer to home on the south coast of Montreal. He can walk to and from the office. Landsman still helps patients and he’s excited to go to work. In his new role, he also doesn’t work every evening or weekend.
“It was definitely the pandemic that made me reevaluate everything in life,” he said.
‘Chasing money is not the be all and end all’
The Landsman isn’t alone, and it’s not just healthcare workers who are leaving their jobs. Experts say the health crisis has spurred workers to pivot in their careers and engage in work.
Moshe Lander, an economics professor at Concordia University, notes that people are in a state of uncertainty – and that “we’ve all said the pandemic has changed us in some capacity. ” Faced with rising costs of living, labor shortages and sporadic shutdowns over the past two years, workers and businesses alike are having to reassess.
“Some people have just decided that the pursuit of money is not the be-all and end-all,” he said.
Michael Czemerys is another Montrealer who chose to pivot during the health crisis. When the first wave of COVID-19 hit, his hours were cut initially and he had time to think about his career.
“I think the pandemic has really made me think about what I want out of my life,” he said.
With a background in media and visual effects, he used to work behind the scenes but Czemerys shines when he talks about acting. He also loves art and community. He decided to jump in.
“I mean, who knows what will happen in the future… Maybe it will change,” he said. “But I think right now I realize that this is what I want to do and I’m moving forward with it. And I think it’s the same every day.
“So it’s important to just check with yourself. Make the most of every day when it comes. “
Changing jobs or choosing a different path can be daunting, but it’s something that HR professionals like Sherri Rabinovitch, director of culture and people, also encourage workers to do. It takes courage, she says, but “sometimes the scariest things are worth the most”.
The labor shortage has also created space for Montrealers, although it has made it difficult for companies in different sectors.
November and December are some of the busiest months for retail stores as the holidays drag on, however some in the city have been forced to reduce operating hours last year due to lack of workers. Meanwhile, curbside trash pick up was delayed in several towns and cities in the Montreal area this spring because the company was missing about 30 workers.
On a larger scale, the Quebec government in April announced a wave of overseas recruitment in the hopes of recruiting 3,000 workers next year. Labor Minister Jean Boulet also recently formed a commission to look into reports that the growing number of children between 11 and 14 years old entering the workforce as a result of persistent labor shortages.
That crisis is not going away anytime soon. Rabinovitch does not predict it will slow down before 2025.
“I really don’t know, I don’t know how we can find all these bodies to fill all the jobs.”
Housing costs rise, language laws also have an impact
Montreal, once seen as an affordable and optimal city for work-life balance, is changing. Once hailed as a paradise for tenants, a housing crisis changed that and vacancy rate sit about three percent in the city. For potential homeowners, even as sales begin to decline, there are price increase for both condominiums and single-family homes.
According to Lander, the job market is also exacerbated by people looking for some certainty.
In some cases, people worry that their work will will be automated soon or they could be consumed if there is another pandemic-induced lockdown. In other cases, Lander notes, some workers realize their wages aren’t enough to enter the housing market or buy things they once thought were achievable.
“And if you start to realize that all your efforts aren’t allowing you to be the consumer you want to be, then why are you doing it?” Lander said.
In Montreal, and more broadly in Quebec, another factor that could cause workers to seek opportunities elsewhere is Proposition 96, a new law aimed at strengthening and protecting the French language. The government has defended its legislation – which includes stricter language requirements for companies, schools and immigrants – describing it as “moderate”.
But businesses are worried. In Junea group of technology companies have asked the government pause billsays that requiring immigrants to learn French within six months is unrealistic.
That’s a concern for Czemerys, who grew up in Western Canada. He plans to move to Vancouver, where his family is, and where there are more opportunities for English-speaking actors.
“I don’t speak French well. I’ve been here for a while and I’ve been able to work in English but I haven’t really been motivated to learn French that well,” he said. “And then there’s this new bill, which is (seemingly) scary to me. So that’s part of it too.”
Lander says the Quebec government’s policy approach is partly to blame for the labor shortage that appears here compared to the provinces. Prop 96 is not only “heavy-handed” but the government is “very harsh” on language requirements – especially for workers who may want to move here – when it should use words of encouragement. softer and try to entice workers, he added.
“You start making these additional requirements or start labeling certain jobs that aren’t for certain people,” says Lander. “Yes, it’s discriminatory and it doesn’t discriminate in a positive way.”
‘Now I feel a breath of fresh air’
Lander says most people accept their jobs. But workers are now hunting for jobs that match their exact specifications, whether it’s certain schedules, benefits, teleworking options or otherwise. In fact, a recent Ipsos poll found that many Canadians want to continue working from home and about a third are willing to change jobs to do so.
For Landsman, his salary shouldn’t be an issue – especially given the premium for working the night shift. In his new role, he took a pay cut but he found a better work-life balance.
“Now I feel a breath of fresh air. It’s been a pleasure to come to work,” said Landsman.
David S. Landsman with his family. He changed careers during the pandemic and spent more time with his wife and daughter.
Submitted by David S. Landsman
Switching to acting was also a good choice for Czemerys. Not only is he passionate about what he does, but there are well-paid and exciting opportunities along the way – and this is just the beginning. He encourages others to follow their passions, as long as they can pay the bills.
“Although I probably won’t make a lot of money or be comfortable, but you know in the short term, I think I’d be happier overall if I pursued acting and went that route as much as I could.” Czemerys said.
– Wfile i from Global News Morning and The Canadian Press
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
