G-783 - Travel

In 2006, the Grievor relocated himself to [Location B] to access medical treatments upon going Off-Duty Sick from his substantive position in [Location A]. Following his Graduated Return to Work in [Location B] in February 2007, the Grievor was transferred into an acting position in March 2007 that had been temporarily redeployed from [Location A] to [Location B]. In June 2008, the Grievor was promoted to the rank of corporal in the position in which he had been acting. This promotion resulted in a change in the Grievor’s status from “temporary” to “permanent” as well as in the position’s official redeployment to [Location B].  

The Grievor initially requested reimbursement for retroactive relocation benefits as a result of his move to [Location B]. When that request was denied, the Grievor submitted an expense claim form to the Respondent seeking compensation for travel related expenses incurred while on temporary acting assignment.  

The Respondent denied the Grievor’s expense claims and the Grievor filed a grievance challenging this decision.  

A Level I Adjudicator denied the grievance on the basis that the Grievor failed to have his claims for travel status pre-approved prior to the commencement of his temporary acting assignment. 

The ERC concluded that while the Grievor failed to meet the “pre-authorization” and “government business” requirements under the RCMP Travel Directive (Administrative Manual (AM) VI.1), he was nevertheless on travel status during the period covered by his temporary transfer to [Location B]. More specifically, in relying on section 4.8.2 of the AM VI.1 and section G.1.e.2 of the RCMP Career Management Manual, Chapter 3 (CMM 3), which both provided that a member will be considered on travel status if his or her temporary workplace is located outside his or her headquarters area, the ERC determined that the Grievor was on travel status as a result of the RCMP’s decision to transfer him without permanently changing his headquarters area. In finding that the Grievor was on travel status for the duration of his temporary acting assignment, the ERC determined that he was entitled to meal, accommodation and incidental allowances in accordance with the AM VI.1.  

The ERC recommends that the Commissioner allow the grievance.