HR info RH Bulletin
CA-266-21-07
Pay Bulletin from ESDC's Compensation Services Directorate
This bulletin will provide you with information on compensation and benefits and the resources available to you regarding the Phoenix pay system, including important information and tips to avoid pay issues.
Public Service Compensation Email Notification System
The Government of Canada wants to help you better understand your public service compensation. We encourage you to subscribe to the Public Service Compensation Email Notification System to receive the most up-to-date information on pay and the public service pension and benefits plans.
New Signature Options iService Page
ESDC’s Compensation Services Directorate would like to introduce their new Signature Options – Infographic and FAQs iService page that highlights three options available to ESDC employees to digitally sign documents.
Important changes to highlight specific to the Signature Options:
- For the PDF option, IITB recommends the use of Adobe Reader when adding and/or validating digital signatures. Foxit Phantom PDF does not link to the Entrust Signature certificate (myKey), which is required to secure and validate a signature.
- When the “digitally sign” button is greyed-out on the PDF document and the file needs to be flattened, the originator’s signature will become invalid. Therefore, two copies of the document must be sent to the Human Resources Service Centre. The first copy will include the originator’s valid signature and the second copy will include the second valid signature.
Vacation
This is the season for some well-deserved and needed vacation time for all of us. We’ve all had a challenging year filled with ups and downs. With that said, we encourage all employees to discuss plans for vacation leave usage with their manager to ensure that you take time off to recharge batteries, spend time with loved ones, and focus on wellbeing.
It is important to note that employees are expected to use their vacation leave in the year in which it is earned. By submitting your vacation leave as soon as possible, you allow yourself a greater opportunity to fulfill your plans. Additionally, the moratorium on the automatic cash-out of vacation and compensatory leave will be extended through March 31, 2022.
Non-imperative staffing: How to find your way around?
Are you aware of the principles for non-imperative appointments?
Official languages are an essential qualification when staffing a bilingual position. However, after reasonable efforts, you may be unsuccessful in finding a candidate who meets the language profile. Therefore, a non-imperative appointment can be considered in some circumstances. For example:
- There is no pool of fully qualified candidates for an imperative appointment
- The nature of the duties is highly specialized and the pool of candidates is very limited;
- To promote the participation of the under-represented language community, based on an insufficient number of applications;
- When every effort has been made to appoint on an imperative basis, for example through formal and informal non-conclusive processes;
- Other circumstances may apply following consultation with your HR advisor.
It is also important to know that non-imperative appointments only apply to indeterminate appointments under the Public Service Official Languages Exclusion Approval Order.
When making a non-imperative appointment, you must demonstrate the reasons for your choice and demonstrate it in writing. You can provide the information using the template for the Request for Non-Imperative Staffing of Bilingual Positions (DOCX Version, 35 KB).
You must also specify, in your document, the administrative measures that will be in place to ensure continuity of the bilingual functions of the position until the incumbent meets the language requirements. These measures must take into account all bilingual functions, whether operational or supervisory, for example:
- Conducting bilingual meetings in designated bilingual areas
- Providing correspondence/communications in the other official language
- Provide supervision in the employee's language of choice
- Provide service to internal and/or external clients
For more information on procedures and your responsibilities, please consult the Manager's Guide to Non-Imperative Staffing. We also invite you to consult you HR Advisor for all non-imperative staffing or to discuss the use non-imperative appointments for employment equity and diversity initiatives.
Classification Conversion – Tips on Communicating Change
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has been working with bargaining agents and different functional communities to look at how we can update the classification system to reflect the work being performed in the public service today and into the future.
As a result of this work, changes will be made to the Computer Systems (CS) group, the Program and Administrative Services (PA) group, as well as the Financial Management (FI) and Auditing (AU) groups. We are currently working towards implementing changes to the CS group in October 2021. Changes to the PA, FI and AU groups will follow in October 2022.
Managers, did you know that there are tips available to help you communicate classification conversion related change to your employees? Visit the Conversion page on iService to access the tips and to learn more.
ESDC’s Guide to Returning to the Workplace
ESDC’s Guide to Returning to the Workplace has the latest pandemic-related information for employees, managers and other enablers.
Guide updates include:
- The refreshed Toolkit for OHS Committees and Representatives, including responsibilities and a link to a short video.
- Procedures for Responding to Suspected and Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace.
- Domestic travel and steps to take if the travel is deemed essential.
- Leave if an employee must isolate, self-isolate or must be quarantined after travelling for personal reasons.
In addition, managers are reminded that as provincial or territorial restrictions begin to ease, Departmental guidance continues to reflect Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, and Treasury Board of Canada advice and remains in effect.
Manager’s Guide on Human Resources Issues During a COVID-19 Pandemic
The Manager’s Guide on Human Resources Issues During a COVID-19 Pandemic includes updated guidance on:
- Approval of an employee's request to telework outside of Canada; and
- Leave for employees who are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine during working hours.
You can find the complete list of updates in the Summary of Updates section of the Manager’s Guide.
Managers with case-specific enquiries can also contact their Regional Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Advisors through the Human Resources Services Centre.