CS Classification Changes

Further to the recent email, [2021-05-07] Classification renewal (conversion) – PA, CS, FI and AU from the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Human Resources Services Branch, to departmental senior leaders on classification renewal exercises, I am writing to inform you about changes to the Computer Systems (CS) group.

The CS group will change to a new occupational group called Information Technology (IT). This is planned to take place in October 2021.

Why now?

Computer systems and information technology work was last reviewed in 1985. Since that time, the IT field has changed considerably; the new classification will reflect that. Modernized and streamlined classifications help ensure that our tools reflect the work of today’s public service and bring more consistency in how similar jobs are evaluated.

Key information:

  • Unless otherwise informed, employees continue to be covered under their current collective agreement and their bargaining agent does not change.
  • The existing five-level CS structure will continue to be used in the new IT model. Salary protection measures will apply if the maximum salary of an employee’s new group and level is lower than the maximum salary of their current group and level, although this is not expected for any ESDC CS employees.
  • The current CS qualification standard requires successful completion of two years of an acceptable post-secondary educational program. The new IT group will instead require graduation, at a minimum, from a two-year program of study relevant to the position to be staffed, from a recognized post-secondary institution. When the conversion goes into effect, indeterminate CS employees will be deemed to meet new qualification standards.
  • Some of you may have vacant CS positions in your area. These will not be converted. You should staff required vacant positions as soon as possible, or they will be eliminated.

Your unique role as a manager or supervisor:

As a manager or supervisor, these changes may affect you both as someone responsible for employees whose positions may change, and as an employee who may occupy a position that will also undergo changes.

I will reach out to all CS employees in the coming weeks to share similar information. Our communications and human resources teams are also planning information sessions for managers and employees to help ease this transition.

Employees will want to hear directly from you how these changes may affect their position, work and team. I encourage you to add this topic as a standing item to your staff meeting agenda or regular one-on-one meetings with employees. Please pay special attention to the concerns raised and share these with executive managers.

I invite you to use the following tools to support you:

Next Steps:

All affected employees will receive advanced personal notification of which position they are mapped to under the new classification. It is expected that all ESDC CSs will be mapped to a standardized job description in the IT group. This is scheduled to take place in late August 2021. In the four weeks leading up to that time, changes in reporting relationships entered into the Human Resources Service Centre portal will be put on hold.

Please share this message with managers of CSs in your organisation who may not have received it directly.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Classification generic mailbox at: nc-nwdb-bdtn-gd@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Peter Littlefield
Chief Information Officer