The unthinkable has happened. After years of hard work and loyalty to the public service, you’re hearing that the employer is cutting its work force. You need to know what this means for you and what rights you have.
This series of fact sheets provides information about the Work Force Adjustment Appendix (WFAA) negotiated for Treasury Board employees. It forms part of your collective agreement and complements provisions in the Public Service Employment Act and regulations. These fact sheets are intended as guidelines and should be used in conjunction with the WFAA. Specific references to relevant sections of the WFAA are indicated in brackets.
Additional fact sheets for Treasury Board employees, Agency employees and employees at other work locations will be added to the web site on a regular basis.
The appendix takes precedence over the job security provisions of your collective agreements and ensures you have options about how to face these situations, and time to prepare yourself and make sound decisions.
Note that the WFAA only applies to indeterminate employees. Unfortunately, term employees are not covered by the WFAA.
Read the rest of workforce adjustment fact sheet #1 (pdf)
Fact Sheet – What is a work force adjustment situation?
A work force adjustment situation is one where your employment is jeopardized by:
- a lack of work (Definitions),
- discontinuance of a function (Definitions),
- the relocation of a work unit (Definitions),
- the closure of an office or work location(s) (6.4),
- an alternative service delivery initiative (7.1 – the transfer of any work, undertaking or business of the public service to any body or corporation that is a separate employer or outside the public service), for example
- the devolution to another level of government,
- P3s, and
- contracting out and privatization.
In some work force adjustment situations only specific positions are involved in a work force adjustment, while in other cases the adjustment may involve entire work sections, functions or departments. The process for advising individuals and the right they have are specific where an alternate service delivery initiative is taking place.
Read the rest of workforce adjustment fact sheet #2 (pdf)
Fact Sheet – Work Force Adjustment Appendix and You
Note that the WFAA only applies to indeterminate employees. Unfortunately, term employees are not covered by the WFAA. You will be notified in writing by your department if a work force adjustment situation affects you. Term and casual employees may not be officially notified of planned changes. If your job is affected by a work force adjustment, you will be advised in writing of your status. If your status changes, the department must advise you in writing.
- If the deputy head of your department identifies that your services may no longer be required, you will be notified in writing that you are affected (Definitions). Note that this step might be skipped if the deputy head identifies that your services WILL no
longer be required beyond a specified date. If that’s the case, you’ll receive written notice under 2, 3 or 4. On the other hand, if your services are ultimately identified as necessary, you may not move any farther in the process or your affected status may be
rescinded. - If the deputy head decides your services are no longer required beyond a specified date and there is likely to be employment available for you, you will be given a guarantee of
a reasonable job offer (1.1.6). This gives you surplus priority until you receive a reasonable job offer. - If the deputy head decides your services are no longer required beyond a specified date and there is no likelihood of employment, you will not be given a guarantee of a reasonable job offer. Instead you will become an opting employee and will be given several options to choose from in order to help you make the transition to other employment (1.1.6).
- Some employees may ultimately be laid-off.
Alternate Service Delivery initiatives are addressed in a different manner than other types of work force adjustment.
Read the rest of workforce adjustment fact sheet #3 (pdf).