Canadian healthcare staff decry ‘cruel hoax’ after scam email promises paid day off

Healthcare staff in Newfoundland and Labrador received a fraudulent email on June 20, 2026, falsely promising a paid day off, which unions have condemned as a "cruel hoax" and an "insensitive" cybersecurity test. The email, titled "June Holiday," was sent to thousands of healthcare workers who have been experiencing significant burnout and understaffing. The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Nurses (NLAN) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) expressed outrage, with NLAN president Yvette Coffey calling the email a "cruel hoax" that caused "unnecessary distress" to an already overburdened workforce. CUPE stated that the email was "insensitive" and demonstrated a "profound lack of understanding" of the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. The email originated from an internal cybersecurity testing firm, not the provincial health authority, according to a statement from Eastern Health. The health authority has apologized for the distress caused and confirmed that no paid day off was authorized. This incident has exacerbated existing frustrations among healthcare workers regarding workload and appreciation.