Direction on hybrid work exceptions for Digital Talent

From: Chief Information Officer of the Government of Canada

To: Deputy Heads and Departmental Chief Information Officers

Subject: Exceptions for the IT digital community regarding sustained presence in the workplace

Message:

Dear Colleagues,

As we commence the full implementation across the public service on the direction on prescribed presence in the workplace that was communicated by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat message December 15, 2022, I am writing to you as the functional leader of the Digital community. In that announcement, it was shared that my office would be communicating direction on information technology (IT) specific areas where exceptions make sense for recruitment and retention (which is a challenge across Canada in the digital space, for both private and public sectors).

Based on input from a cross-section of our CIOs we have identified high-priority IT exceptions to the common approach to hybrid work applicable across the public service.

The following IT exceptions are identified below to better support the recruitment and retention efforts:

1. IT Software Solutions – application configuration and development using modern DevOps or DevSecOps, quality assurance and control, release management, database administration, accessibility testing and design, legacy systems, and critical business applications work
2. IT Security – cyber security and security architecture, where roles can be performed remotely as determined by the department and security requirements
3. IT Cloud Solutions – cloud architecture, cloud support, and cloud specialists

These exceptions represent approximately 15–20% of IT positions within the core public administration. And they will apply only to non-managerial individual contributors at the IT-01 to IT-05 levels. Those employees who are eligible for these exceptions, will still be expected to attend in-person activities when directed by their manager. Of important note, exceptions will be applied consistently and any adjustment from these areas would require review from OCIO.

To ensure that the GC Digital Community remains an adaptive learning organization, digital leaders need to drive the utilization of new tools and methodologies to maximize hybrid work and continue to drive efficiency and effectiveness. We will also review the approach on a semi-annual basis to ensure we remain on a good path – as the path is largely uncharted today.

Themes identified within my messages to digital leaders on October 21 and December 16, 2022, on hybrid work and the need to find and retain digital talent nationally, are consistent with these exceptions. This is an opportunity to embrace working differently now and into the future, as we strive to solve our digital talent challenge, reflect those we serve, and enable the best possible services to Canada and Canadians.

Catherine Luelo (She/her)
Deputy Minister and Chief Information Officer of Canada
Government of Canada