Official languages in the workplace
Official languages requirements
English and French are Canada’s official languages and have equal status. Under the Official Languages Act (OLA), they are also the languages of work in federal institutions.
In designated bilingual regions, federal institutions must:
- create a work environment that supports the effective use of both official languages
- ensure that managers and supervisors can communicate with employees in both official languages when carrying out their duties
The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening bilingualism in the public service in order to:
- better serve Canadians
- create workplaces in designated bilingual regions where employees feel truly comfortable working in the official language of their choice
Linguistic requirements for supervisory positions in bilingual regions
The Directive on Official Languages for People Management requires that:
- employees with positions in bilingual regions be supervised in the official language of their choice, regardless of the linguistic designation of their position
- the linguistic profiles of bilingual positions that supervise employees with positions in bilingual regions are identified at a superior level of proficiency in the second official language
Tools and resources
The following tools and resources can help managers and human resources specialists accurately and objectively determine the language requirements of positions so that employees’ official language rights are respected and the public is served in the official language of their choice.
Guidelines on section 91 of the Official Languages Act
Provide a framework for determining whether a position should be designated as unilingual or bilingual and, if bilingual, what linguistic profile is required.
Qualification Standards in Relation to Official Languages
Describe the second official language proficiency levels for reading comprehension, written expression and oral communication that are used to establish the linguistic profiles of bilingual positions.
Tool for Identifying the Linguistic Profile of Positions
Helps managers and human resources specialists determine the language requirements of a position by guiding them through a series of questions.
For additional guidance, visit the Community of Official Languages page on GCwiki (accessible only on the Government of Canada network), where you can access resources, stay connected and learn about the latest developments in official languages.