Guidance for Managers on the Treatment of Variable Hours of Work for Employees on a Compressed work week Schedule During the Strike

Date: June 1, 2023

To: Heads of Human Resources, Directors/Chiefs of Labour Relations and Compensation, and the Public Service Pay Centre

Objective

This information notice provides guidance for managers on the treatment of variable hours of work for employees who were on a compressed work week schedule who exercised their right to strike full-time between April 19 and April 28, 2023.

Background

As per the applicable collective agreement, variable hours of work (compressed work week schedule) are defined as an alternative work schedule that allows for an employee to complete the weekly hours of employment in a period of other than five (5) full days.

Therefore, managers must ensure that the compressed schedule is aligned with the total hours as per the approved schedule for any employees who was on a variable hour schedule (compressed work week) and was on Strike LWOP (Leave without pay) for 6 or more consecutive days.

Directions to Manager

To aid managers in determining the impact of the strike on an employee’s hours of work, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has created a Compressed Schedule Calculator. Managers must input the hours of work for each employee on a compressed schedule prior to the strike and the tool will calculate hours owed by or to the employee.

If it is determined that an employee owes hours to the employer, they would be required to submit paid leave such as vacation or compensatory to their manager for approval to compensate for the difference. This submission of paid leave has already been “taken,” and the employee does not also take the time off again on the day they submit the leave.

Other paid leave, such as family related or sick leave, are not appropriate for this situation, and are not to be used without consulting with labour relations. In addition, the dates of April 19-28 must not be used as an employee cannot be on more than one type of leave at the same time.

Furthermore, managers may also decide with the employee for them to make up the time or take the time off over a period acceptable to both parties. All arrangements should be made no later than June 30, 2023.

Any questions you may have on the functionality of the Compressed Schedule Calculator should be directed to: PSPC.

Any questions regarding the guidance in this notice should be directed to designated departmental labour relations or departmental compensation representatives who may contact the Employee Relations and Total Compensation sector, TBS-OCHRO.

Original signed by

Wendy Braithwaite
Director, Compensation Policy, Interpretations, and Pay Administration
Employee Relations and Total Compensation
Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer