Leave of absences on the rise for SAAQ workers after SAAQclic failures

SAAQ employees have endured verbal and physical abuse from unhappy customers after the SAAQclic platform was launched in February 2023.

Workers claim the failure of the website has led to a deterioration of their mental and physical health, which has led to a wave of leave of absences.

The absentee rate has increased by over 200 per cent in several locations following the launch of SAAQclic.

According to a survey by the Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ) published in October 2023, nearly half of employees assigned to customer service said they had experienced anxiety and 60 per cent considered quitting.

Also, the SAAQ claims that new staff members calling in sick may be the reason why absentee numbers are so prevalent in the service centres.