FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2026
RNU Responds to NL Health Services Phishing Exercise Using Fake Promise of Paid Leave
St. John’s, NL – The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador is raising concerns after NL Health Services conducted a phishing awareness exercise that used the promise of an additional paid day off as the hook for employees.
The email, sent as part of an internal cybersecurity test, appeared to recognize employees for their work during ongoing system pressures, including the implementation of CorCare. It invited employees to “submit” a request for what was described as a “June Holiday,” an additional paid day off in recognition of their care, commitment, and professionalism.
RNU President Yvette Coffey, RN, said the exercise was in very poor taste.
“Yes, we have heard concerns from members about this, and frankly, I understand why they are upset,” said Coffey. “Nurses and other health-care professionals have worked through enormous pressure over the last number of years, including ongoing staffing shortages, burnout, organizational restructuring, and the challenges connected to the rollout of CorCare. To use the promise of an additional paid day off as the hook for a phishing exercise was in very poor taste.”
Coffey said the issue is not with cybersecurity education, but with the judgment used in designing the exercise.
“Cybersecurity education is important, but it needs to be done with judgment and respect,” said Coffey. “There are many ways to test phishing awareness without exploiting the very real stress, fatigue, and frustration health-care workers are experiencing.”
The union says the message was especially insensitive at a time when many nurses and health-care professionals are exhausted, struggling to access leave, and managing significant change across the health system.
“I am not sure who thought this would be a good idea,” said Coffey. “At a time when staff are exhausted, when many are struggling to access leave, and when employees are being asked to manage significant change across the system, this message was bound to feel insulting to many people who received it.”
RNU says employees deserve genuine recognition for their work, not a fake promise of appreciation used as a test.
“Members and other health-care professionals have every right to be perplexed and more than a little miffed,” said Coffey. “They deserve genuine recognition for the work they are doing, not a fake promise of appreciation used as a test.”
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About the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador represents over 6,000 registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, and nurse practitioners across the province, advocating for quality health care, safe working conditions, and respect for the nursing profession.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications
Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
Tel: (709) 691-6890
Email: jhamel@rnunl.ca