Overpayments during the Covid-19 Pandemic for Civilian Defence Team Members

April 20, 2020 - Defence Stories

As of March 23, 2020, the Pay Centre is temporarily suspending the overpayment recovery plans for all new overpayments under section 3.15.4 in the Directive on the Terms and Conditions of Employment, “Recovery over an extended period as a result of the implementation of Phoenix.” This measure will allow the Pay Centre to prioritize pay transactions to employees during the current pandemic situation.

The Pay Centre will continue informing employees of any new overpayments. Employees can also still choose to repay their new overpayment in the manner that best meets their situation by advising the Pay Centre.

The following flexibilities listed in this bulletin will be suspended until further notice: recovery of overpayments, Emergency Salary Advances, and priority payments. However, overpayments will continue for the recoveries of amounts owing arising from routine pay transactions, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Overpayments of less than 10% of an employee’s gross bi-weekly pay
• Periods of leave without pay of 5 days or less
• Overdrawn leave (vacation/sick) upon termination of employment (for reasons other than incapacity/illness and layoff)
• Cancellation of a leave with income averaging agreement by the employee, where the leave has been taken
• Amounts advanced on behalf of employees for union dues
• Maternity/parental allowance, where the employee has not fulfilled their obligation as set out in their collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment
• Amounts owed to public service health insurance plans, pension, supplementary death benefit or disability/long-term disability due to periods of leave without pay
• Overpayments associated with the termination of employment, end-of-term or casual contracts without further extension or renewal (from first available funds)

Please note: The recovery plan will continue for employees who already have repayment plans in place. However, these plans can be modified should employees experience financial hardship.

Employees in positions of financial hardship should contact the Client Contact Centre at 1-855-686-4729. Should you have any questions please contact your pod leadership teams.