Advertisements


Q1. Do advertisements have to be in writing?

A. No, but a record should be kept of the fact that an oral advertisement was made, to whom, when, etc. The announcement of the job opportunity must comply with PSC policy requirements, such as ensuring that all persons in the area of selection have a reasonable opportunity to apply and the duty to accommodate.

Q2. What information could be provided or would be useful for persons to help them make an informed decision about applying on an advertised appointment process?

A. Besides the mandatory elements, other information could help people self-screen for an advertised opportunity, such as the conditions of the work environment, or information that would make an employment opportunity more attractive to certain audiences. Persons in the general public may need different information than those already employed in the public service. Managers would be in the best position to judge what is useful information based on the work to be performed.

Q3. Is there a mandatory minimum advertising period?

A. Yes. Effective December 1, 2009, when advertising job opportunities in writing, deputy heads are required to post them for a period of at least one business day (24 hours), closing at 23:59 Pacific Time. For the purpose of the minimum advertising period, a business day is defined as Monday to Friday and excludes federal, provincial and territorial statutory and/or recognized holidays. However, the PSC recommends advertising for one to two weeks, depending on the group and level and labour market availability. This length of time recognizes the balance that managers have to strike between providing reasonable access and respecting the guiding values, on the one hand, and their own immediate operational needs, including efficiency, on the other.

Q4. Why has the PSC introduced a minimum advertising period to the policy on Advertising in the Appointment process?

A. By setting a minimum advertising period, the PSC ensures that persons from across the country regardless of what time zone they live in and whether or not they require a reader service, have a reasonable opportunity to apply and to be considered for public service employment.

Q5. When could the minimum advertising period be considered?

A. Using the minimum advertising period is sufficient when it is expected that a very large volume of applications will be received during that short time period. In other situations, longer advertising periods would be appropriate. When establishing an advertising period, refer to the considerations outlined in the Guide to Implementing the Advertising in the Appointment Process Policy.

Q6. Does the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) automatically calculate and set the minimum advertising period?

A. PSRS can identify weekends, all federal and most provincial and territorial statutory and/or recognized holidays. Consequently, if the minimum advertising period policy requirement of one complete business day is not met, users are informed that PSRS has adjusted the closing date to the next business day, along with the reason(s) why.

Please remember that you may need to consider provincial or territorial holidays that are not identified by PSRS when determining a closing date that respects the minimum advertising period policy requirement. Keep in mind that some provincial and territorial holidays vary from year to year.

Q7. Does Publiservice automatically calculate and set the minimum advertising period?

A. Publiservice automatically adjusts the closing date to the next business day in the case of federal statutory and/or designated holidays.

Q8. Who is responsible to ensure compliance with the policy requirement?

A. It is the Deputy Head’s responsibility to ensure compliance with all PSC policies.

Q9. What can I do to manage the volume of applications?

A. With appropriate planning, the volume of applications can be managed. The Volume Management Guide presents pertinent information in this regard.

Q10. How do I calculate the next business day requirement?

A. A business day, for the purpose of the minimum advertising period, is defined as Monday to Friday, and excludes federal and provincial and territorial statutory and/or recognized holidays. The determination of an advertising period must take into consideration the statutory and/or recognized holidays of all the regions that form part of the area of selection.

For example:

The advertisement is posted at noon on Friday, February 18, 2011 and the area of selection is national. Since the Monday is a provincial holiday in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island, the one business day would be the Tuesday, so the advertisement may not close before 23:59 on Tuesday.

The following web site is a list of holidays at the national, provincial and territorial level that may be useful when setting the minimum advertising period: Canadian Heritage.

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