Option to cash-out up to 5 days of annual leave available to CAF members

February 14, 2023 - Defence Stories

CAF Regular Force members and members of the Primary Reserve on Class B or C service: if you have an outstanding balance of annual leave this fiscal year, you also have some options.   For fiscal year 2022/2023 only, you can either take your remaining annual leave or opt to cash-out up to five annual leave days.

Cashing-out annual leave is not an entirely new concept, but the rationale for this year’s trial incentive is. Normally, when a CAF member carries an annual leave balance at end-fiscal for reasons outside of imperative military requirements, their commanding officers are obligated to cash-out those days using unit budgets. CAF leadership is now granting CAF members a bit more flex and say when it comes to determining their own leave schedules this final quarter, irrespective of the reasons behind why a balance may still be on the books. If you have not yet exhausted your annual leave allocation this year and would prefer monetary compensation for up to five of those days in lieu of time off, you can lean into that preference.

While you determine what works best for you, remember that as per the Canadian Forces Leave Policy Manual, “the purpose of annual leave is to sustain initiative and enthusiasm and to encourage the physical and mental wellbeing of CAF members by providing opportunities for rest and relaxation.”  The same document characterizes a carefully established leave plan as key to sustaining good performance.

In that vein and in keeping with professional athlete philosophy to achieve peak performance through the balance of work and rest, you are strongly encouraged to consider your own (sustainable) work-life balance. This is corroborated by The Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy (para 5.1 Striking Balance: A holistic approach), in which members and their families can find many useful tools.

If you’re interested in cashing out your annual leave days, you may do so by submitting a request via a DND 2393 to your unit orderly room before March 15, 2023 (reference authority: CANFORGEN 013/23 – ANNUAL LEAVE CASH OUT 2022/2023. This one-time initiative applies only to annual leave in the current fiscal year, and to a maximum of five days. For clarification on process, or on the temporary policy itself, contact the Chief Military Personnel Administrative Response Centre (CMP ARC) at: CMPARC.CRACPM@Forces.gc.ca or by calling at 1-833-445-1182.

Remember that with spring break around the corner, CAF members are encouraged to take time off, be with their loved ones and hit the reset button. You work hard, and we promote balancing the scale by unplugging from the demands of your busy work life when and where you can.

Additional resources:

Intranet:

• CANFORGEN 013/23 – ANNUAL LEAVE CASH OUT 2022/2023
  
• Canadian Forces Leave Policy Manual
• The Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy

Internet:

• www.forces.ca