Classification Program Renewal Initiative: CS to IT group conversion

August 13, 2021 – Defence Stories

Classification conversions continue to be an important enterprise-wide priority, particularly as work continues to build a more agile, inclusive and equipped public service. Some occupational groups were created in the 1960s and need to be updated to reflect the work of today’s modern public service.

The Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has been consulting with bargaining agents, as well as departments and agencies, over the past several years on classification renewal exercises. One of these exercises is the conversion of the Computer Systems (CS) group to a new Information Technology (IT) group.

This change:

• recognizes increasing professionalization, complexities, sensitivities of our evolving work
• aligns with Beyond 2020 modernization efforts
• enables fair compensation for similar work that aligns with equal wage legislation and guidelines
• helps to reduce misalignment between classification of positions and managers’ expectations

We are on track to move forward with the implementation of the new IT group on December 9, 2021.

Employees currently in a CS position can expect to receive an Advanced Personal Notification (APN) letter in September 2021. The APN informs employees of the group and level proposed for their position before the new Information Technology (IT) occupational group is implemented and before the decision on the new classification of their position takes effect.

An Official Personal Notification (OPN) letter will follow in December. The OPN informs employees of the classification decision regarding the group, level, and salary range and other pertinent details of the position they occupy in the IT occupational group.

Managers, you will find a change management placemat [PDF, 413KB] (accessible only on the National Defence network) to help you lead your employees through the change. As well, frequently asked questions and a video (accessible only on the National Defence network) on the classification conversion exercises can be found on the Classification Renewal GCintranet page (accessible only on the National Defence network).

Watch this short video to get a better understanding of conversion: Video: Conversion (accessible only on the National Defence network). If you require additional information, please talk to your manager or and agent at HR Connect RH (for DND employees only).