Alberta Health Services' new code of conduct covers all employees, including doctors, dieticians, pharmacists and registered nurses. (CBC)

Alberta nurses have filed a grievance over the provincial health authority's new code of conduct, which says employees can't speak negatively about the organization to the public.

Alberta Health Services' new code covers all employees, including doctors, dieticians, pharmacists and registered nurses.

"Public statements on behalf of Alberta Health Services are only to be made by a designated spokesperson," reads the code, which has been posted on the health authority's website.

"As a representative of Alberta Health Services, which you are by virtue of your role within the organization, it is important to exercise caution at all times and to choose your words carefully when engaging in any form of public speaking. You must not breach confidentiality or privacy regarding any patient, employee or business information."

Could keep nurses from speaking out: union

The United Nurses of Alberta filed a grievance, calling the wording of the document "condescending," and have already agreed to mediation.

The code, whether intentional or not, could keep employees from speaking out at a time when the provincial health authority is looking for $1 billion in savings, said David Harrigan, the director of labour relations for UNA.

"It appears that the government is focusing on budget and budgetary problems and we think there's going to be a lot of debate about health care and it would be very unfortunate if health-care professionals were not permitted to be involved in that debate," he said. "If the government, or Alberta Health Services, announces that they are going to close a facility or they are going to close some operating theatres, should nurses not be allowed to speak out about that?"

The nurses have their own code of ethics and the union has never had a situation where an employer has indicated concern about nurses speaking out, he said.

While employee code of conduct rules are common among businesses, "when the employer is also engaged in public policy then it becomes a lot more difficult," he said.

Obligation to report 'reasonable suspicions'

Harrigan said he is also concerned about a "high-handed" section of the code that involves reporting suspicious activities of fellow employees.

"Are they looking for employees to spy on other employees? We just aren't sure."

That section explains what to do if an employee suspects a "fellow employee is engaging in questionable activities in the workplace."

"If you are faced with a situation involving ethics or any other issue raised by the code of conduct and are unsure about how you should act, you are required to discuss the matter with your supervisor or the ethics and compliance officer. If you have any reasonable suspicions that a fellow employee's conduct violates the code of conduct, you also have an obligation to report this to your supervisor."

CBC News has contacted Alberta Health Services for an interview about the code, but no one has been made available.

In the introduction to the code of conduct, the health authority writes that employees "share the responsibility of ensuring that our daily actions and decisions reflect a commitment to build trust with our patients, our community partners and all Albertans.

"When faced with difficult decisions, we must make choices that are not only morally and legally correct, but ones that will also stand the test of public scrutiny … if your personal conduct could reasonably result in valid allegations or criticism from our fellow Albertans, then the conduct is questionable and may be improper."

The Alberta Health Services board approved a budget on June 30 for the 2009-10 fiscal year that includes $10.9 billion in spending on health care, a 13 per cent increase over the previous year. Despite an increase in provincial funding, the board is still $1.1 billion short.