Pay rates and annual wage increases are the same for everyone sharing a role. What makes paycheques differ between employees are shift premiums for weekends, short visits, or complex care; time-in-service targets that boost pension contributions; seniority targets that add paid time off; and year-end bonuses tied to earnings and performance.
Base Hourly Rates
Caregivers (HCA) earn $26.00 per hour. Licensed Practical Nurses earn $41.20 per hour. Registered Nurses earn $53.00 per hour. These rates move together each year, so nobody in the same role earns more or less than a colleague for the same work.
Shift Premiums
Premiums are extra pay we add as an incentive for work that's harder to staff or harder to do. The weekend premium applies to visits required between 4pm Friday and 4pm Sunday (self-scheduled visits don't qualify). The complex premium applies to work in a smokey environment or with high behavioural risk. The short-visit premium applies to hourly visits under two hours, but not to per-visit appointments.
Annual Bonuses
Annual bonuses are customary here. They're based on performance and calculated as a percentage of your total wages for the year. Bonuses are paid on December 6th each year (Pay Period 23). Amounts vary year to year and aren't guaranteed, but in a good year they make a real difference.