Dear Members,
February is here, and that usually means three things. First, the National Capital Region is buried in snow. Second, tax season has officially begun. And third, we begin yet another year of headaches caused by the Phoenix Pay system. Yes, now seven years after its launch, we’re still dealing with its failures. Let’s get started.
Phoenix and FSD overpayment recovery letters
With the Phoenix Pay System entering its seventh year, many of its errors and overpayments are now past the six-year recovery limitation period set out in the Crown Liabilities and Proceedings Act. This is the period past which the government is prohibited from taking legal action against someone in an effort to recover an overpayment. Some members may have received letters from the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) Pay Centre intending to recover funds that they believe to be overpayments. What we are hearing though is that many of these letters refer to amounts that are inaccurate, unverifiable or that date back more than six years and fall outside of the limitation period. If you have received an overpayment recovery letter from the PSPC Pay Centre, here’s a comprehensive FAQ we put together to help you make sure you are not agreeing to repay amounts you are no longer required to reimburse. This applies to all overpayment recovery attempts, including those related to FSDs.
Implementation of the Common Hybrid Work Model
We now find ourselves in week three of the Employer’s phased return to the workplace plan. Though this is still headline news –at least here in the NCR – the issue has a lesser impact on most of our members as much of the Foreign Service has been working in hybrid or in-person models for quite some time now.
Almost predictably, however, we are hearing reports of very different approaches taken by each of the departments. IRCC seems to be implementing the new model in a consistent and structured way that closely follows the recommendations set out by Treasury Board. GAC appears to be leaving many of the details up to managers to decide. And, as a result, this can lead to some confusion.
For those of you at GAC, HWD set out some fairly clear guidelines on telework agreements last December. These apply to Canada-Based Staff (CBS) assigned to positions at Headquarters, regional offices, and missions abroad. All CBS, including those who already have an approved telework agreement, must complete and submit their telework requests in HRMS no later than February 24. We encourage you to talk to your manager about your current arrangement and how to proceed going forward.
As I have mentioned before, the Employer, under its statutory authority, is in its right to require Employees be present in the workplace. And PAFSO is committed to ensuring that this Common Hybrid Work Model is implemented according to four core principles: safety, flexibility, fairness, and clarity. For more information, please refer to our position on the return to the workplace, as well as a helpful FAQ on the subject.
If you feel that the transition to the workplace is being carried out in a way that does not take health and safety into consideration, or without providing reasonable accommodation, please reach out to our office and let us know.
We are expanding our Labour Relations team
I just wanted to remind you that PAFSO is currently seeking an experienced, proactive, and autonomous individual with excellent analytical and communications skills to join our Labour Relations team. As part of our continued efforts to foster a workforce representative of our diverse membership, we particularly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, people living with disabilities, persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. If you know anyone who would be a good candidate for this position, please pass along this job posting, and feel free to share it on your social and professional networks.
Fundraiser for the Deborah Chatsis Indigenous Scholarship February 22
On Wednesday, February 22, PAFSO and AMBCANADA, in cooperation with White Pines Pictures and Adobe Productions, are pleased to present a special screening of the documentary “Ice-Breaker: The 1972 Summit Series” at the Bytowne Cinema. Tickets are $15 and all proceeds will go to the AMBCANADA-PAFSO Deborah Chatsis Indigenous Scholarship in International Affairs. Based in part on the book Ice War Diplomat by former PAFSO member Gary Smith, the film takes a look at the 1972 Summit Hockey Series between Canada and the USSR from a diplomatic perspective. We promise a fun evening of sports diplomacy and hockey history as well as a way to help ensure that Indigenous people are properly represented in Canada’s Foreign Service. Doors open at 1800 and the film starts at 1900. Tickets are available here online or at the door.
Well, that about does it for this week. Do not hesitate to contact our General Manager, Bertrand Myre, for any concerns you may have at work. Send him an email with your name, department and a detailed account of your situation and he will make sure to put you in touch with one of our Labour Relations Advisors. For all other questions, please reach out to info@pafso.com and someone will get back to you shortly.
We’ll chat next in two weeks. If you find yourself in the NCR, make sure to keep warm as it looks like we’re about to enter a deep freeze. Until then, please take care of yourselves and each other.
All the best,
Pam Isfeld
President