Variable Hours of Work (Compressed Work Week and Variable Shift Work Arrangements)

Date:

To: Heads, Compensation and Labour Relations

The purpose of this bulletin is to clarify the method of calculating retroactive payments and establishing the qualifying period in acting pay situations for employees working on variable hours of work.

This bulletin supersedes Information Bulletin dated on Variable Hours of Work / Compressed Work Week and any other bulletins or directives for employees working on a compressed work week arrangement.

Following many concerns from departments and more discussions within Treasury Board Secretariat, it has been agreed that employees on variable hours of work must be compensated for all hours worked for services rendered.

Qualifying Period for acting pay

If the relevant collective agreement specifies that the qualifying period for acting pay for employees working on a variable hours of work is to be converted to hours and where the qualifying period is three days, then qualifying period will be met after 22.50 hours.

However, if the relevant collective agreement does not specify that the qualifying period for acting pay is to be converted to hours for employees working on variable hours of work then the qualifying period should remain in days. Therefore, if the qualifying period specifies three days; the qualifying period will be met after 3 days of work.

Retroactive Payments

The calculation payment must be based on the employee's variable hours of work. For example, an employee working on variable hours of work and who is entitled to a three day retroactivity payment, must be compensated for all hours worked during these three days.

We would like to remind that Compensation Advisors must ensure that a copy of the employee's schedule including compressed work arrangement signed by both the manager and the employee is received and kept in the employee's pay file.

Departmental Compensation and Labour Relations Managers should direct any questions to their corporate officials who, if need be, can contact the Pay Administration Section.

Original signed by
Sylvie Joseph
Acting Director
Project Management, Internal Service Transformation and Pay Administration
Labour Relations and Compensation Operation

Page details

Date modified: