Grievance Case Summary - G-708

The Grievor agreed to travel to a short-staffed detachment to perform relief work. Before she travelled, her superior told her she could receive a Private Accommodation Allowance (PAA) upon her return. She spent 14 nights at the detachment and stayed in a vacant, Crown-owned residence that she considered subpar. She later made a claim for a PAA totalling $700 (14 nights at $50 per night) and other travel expenses. Her superior advised her that, although he initially thought she could receive a PAA, he since learned he was mistaken. He apologized and asked her to resubmit her travel claim without the request for a PAA. The Grievor did so.

The Grievor filed a grievance which a Level I Adjudicator denied on its merits. The Adjudicator found that the Grievor was ineligible to receive a PAA because the residence she stayed in was not a private accommodation, and PAAs were not meant to be compensation for properties that were deemed subpar. However, the Adjudicator agreed that the residence was inadequate and recommended that the RCMP take steps to ensure its relief workers stayed in suitable lodgings.

The Grievor resubmitted her grievance at Level II.

The ERC supported the Level I Adjudicator's suggestion that that the RCMP review its accommodations and ensure they are suitable for relief workers. It expressed hope that the suggestion was accepted and recommended that it be followed on an ongoing basis.

The ERC thanked the Grievor for agreeing to perform relief work at a short-staffed detachment, and for demonstrating tolerance and professionalism while she stayed there.

The ERC recommended that the grievance be denied.

The Commissioner’s decision, as summarized by her office, is as follows:

The Grievor challenged the Respondent’s decision to deny a private non-commercial accommodation allowance (PAA) expense claim with respect to 14 overnight stays at a Crown-owned vacant residence. At Level I, the Adjudicator found that the Grievor was not eligible for the PAA, as the accommodation in which she had stayed constituted government and institutional accommodation (GIA), rather than private non-commercial accommodation. The Commissioner accepts the ERC finding that the Grievor is not entitled to the PAA. The grievance is dismissed.