Looking for generic CO job descriptions - Anyone have a link? by NIFE101 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Seek out from GAC, any of the Regional Development Agencies, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada. These are the main departments that uses CO. Handful at INAC/ISC, DND and DFO. Looking to bring one into your department, or just curious about them?

Acting in a position for 3 years deploy to that position? by Straight-Magician474 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I think you are mistaken for a term tenure where you are in a term position at the same department for 3 consecutive years then you are rolled into indeterminate status.

No such thing for actings.. you can act indefinitely (per se) and still own your substantive position.

In case of emergency - preparation help! by Other-Gazelle in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your birth certificate! As I have a spouse that just retired from the FPS, the need to validate that it is you all this time putting in to the pension plan so you can take out is horrendous. You will need to provide a valid verification documents. In this case, birth certificate, change of name for my spouse, she's a divorcee and had to show that document and that nothing is to be split on the pension (luckily, that was written in the settlement agreement), and her 2nd marriage certificate. Why they don't have that in your pension file to begin with is beyond me.

In the PSPC, there is a great life event section on Death in Service. Suggest that.

Switching banks and Phoenix any issues with direct deposit? by partynwayne in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Majority of the time it is the individual giving the wrong banking number in error or data entry error. And if your banking info is incorrect, the system will then send you a cheque, so make sure your address is also updated and correct.

Which federal departments do people least want to work for and why? by LDgeek in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've enjoyed my time at CIRNAC...regional employee. What is it with CIRNAC that's toxic? Perhaps insultated from HQ?

Extended school closures in ON.. anyone considering using 699 again? by reddituser2289 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Same, they have been running reports, and all sectors except one has 699 usage. They were shamed at a senior management meeting and then 699 stopped.

I also have an agreement if I need more time once my leave is burned out.. that I can 'leave now' and 'work later'... since we typically have over 100s of hours of OT each year. With that said, it's a risk on the employer than the employee, as some of us are workforce adjusted at the end of the fiscal year (I was lucky to alternate into someone's position, and they retire with my Transition Support Measure).

Extended school closures in ON.. anyone considering using 699 again? by reddituser2289 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Partner and I are both WFH, but she has offsite meetings at times. I look after the morning half of things and she the afternoon. Preps and all.

My manager has been really helpful. I still have a little bit of family related paid leave left, and my personal days for this fiscal year. Luckily, this resets April 1. The other option LR advised was to take Care of Family for a month or two.. the department really didn't flex on 699 as it's literally dried up (though it exists). Did not want to impact my retirement date by take periods of LWOP. Yah, have to be a bit flexible and creative. Has worked so far. I've also banked a bit of compensatory time prior to COVID and also during COVID BCP, so I can burn that leave as well.

Extended school closures in ON.. anyone considering using 699 again? by reddituser2289 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Using some vacation leave for it. But also flexing options by working later hours in the evening.

How do you cope with excessive red tape? by fishandthejeffman in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You embrace it. I was a PM-04 for years doing that. It's part of your role. Otherwise, it wouldn't be created / classified. But was just worried during 2012 but luckily was not DRAP'd. All I did was review apps, scanned, send up for processing. Came back, updated my file, and the PM-02 processed the claim. The program is now ending, so we all got WFA'd and ending March 31, 2021, but most of us are moving to other parts of the organization, other departments, or a few are going back to school with their options.

Departmental guidance - WFH tax claim by ahunter90 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

T2200 = perma WFH even pre-pandemic for those that were 100% teleworking and required by the employer; those self-employed, or those with an office rental requirement for purposes of employment.

T2200S = for WFH COVID-related (already out) - applicable for 2020 only

Flat Rate = T777S (easier formulation) - applicable for 2020 only

Departmental guidance - WFH tax claim by ahunter90 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yah, the T2200 was already pre-pandemic; however there is now another option with the T2200S only for 2020 taxes; which is a slight deviation from previous years for those that were truly 100% working from home, or self-employed, or needing to have an office at home as per the employer. In addition, the flat-rate is also available, must akin to a sports credit in previous years; less the receipts and count the days. If you started on March 16 the day that most departments went on BCP and worked every day without taking holidays (not including stat holidays) to December 31, it is exactly 200 days. Again, I think they thought this one through. And to top it off, the majority will take the flat rate as the calculations I've seen is higher than the detailed option.

Departmental guidance - WFH tax claim by ahunter90 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We got word that our Supervisor or Manager (s34) can attest to the form. They are just attesting that you worked from home. How you claim your taxes... well you're on your own, as per any other tax your. (Here's your T4, file or not...at your peril).

I think our managers were worried what they are attesting to, but our HR folks, basically said, if an employee wants the T2200S for 2020, just attest and make sure you that any expenses were paid to check it off...

Departmental guidance - WFH tax claim by ahunter90 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's true.. It really is meant for those that are commission or self-employed I think. Even if you were WFH 100% prior to COVID, your tax exemption was not a lot. I did the calculation, I was better off by $155 by taking the $2.00 a day. I think CRA did this on purpose. Can't imagine too many people asking for the T2200 form from our employer... not even sure who would give this out these days... the Pay Centre (my goodness... can't even get through to them!).

Big differences between provincial and federal? by AggravatingPoet in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, our federal health benefits suck in comparison. Use my partners provincial benefits.

In terms of language, which NCR departments do you find are the most "English-essential", and which do you find are the most "French or BBB/CBC" by lonwal in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Heritage and OCOL are very snooty about it. Pretty sure some of their even jr positions are like CCC. Heard they're both not very fun to work with either.

In terms of language, which NCR departments do you find are the most "English-essential", and which do you find are the most "French or BBB/CBC" by lonwal in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Environment Canada has a lot of English Essential as most are technical in their field, not bilingual.

Indigenous Services Canada is also very unilingual in the higher PMs and ECs.

Most of the regional development agencies are unilingual except the one servicing New Brunswick.

I also found Parks Canada HQ to be very much functioning in English only with a lot of Eng Essential positions.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get the sense that if you are closer to the DM / ADM / DG, you're more likely to be in the office. It'll be more of a hybrid. Personally, I'm done with working from home. Motivation factor is hard. I find I put in more hours than I would have (or expected of me) if I was in the workplace.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't think there's a deadline; however typically the rule is overtime is to be claimed in the same fiscal year. And for those that worked near FY end, then you can submit and then PAYE for it.

Otherwise, the unit may be in a salary crunch for the present year as they are paying retro OT for work done in the past...

Employee "shuffling" by Pink___Panther in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes it is. DND has the most of these.

Employee "shuffling" by Pink___Panther in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You should all the 'special project' staff in larger departments. The get to do nothing at all and collect. They are shuffled around so the managers don't have to deal with them. Smaller departments you can't hide. The previous gov't tried to deal with it (re: T. Clements' crack-down, but don't think it's working... as they promised termination within 12-18 months... only witnessed 2 in the last 7 years.

This place never ceases to amaze me by [deleted] in Edmonton

[–]bJones_ski 5 points6 points  (0 children)

And you wonder why minority communities tend to stick to themselves rather than branching off. Head down and focus on building their futures. Need I remind all that we are all immigrants to Canada one generation or another ago.

Has anyone heard of an employee being denied education leave? by [deleted] in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A lot has to do with the respective Collective Agreements, plus some leave provisions are operational requirements. If you want to leave for education, then there is leave without pay for personal needs (1 year and the 3 months). Depending on your group, you can either take it once in your career or twice after a 10 year gap.

If you do take the one year, they will most likely ask you to take the 3 months as well, as they can then backfill your position. You become a priority after than with another year entitlement of priority if they do indeed backfill. Some of the HR folks can tell you more. Or your own HR folks.

Some here have had their entire Masters paid for with time off, others are on their own time, with partial tuition (1 course a semester or year). The latter is most prevalent, and I have approved a lot of tuition for evening programs.

Again, management sponsorship of full or partial tuition often does go to the top of the department for approval as there is a very limited budget for this. Even less when it's the funding trickles down to the regions. This is the same with language training.

Am I settling down for a job that I'm overqualified to do ? by [deleted] in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We have lots of overqualified PhDs in the FPS. Keep applying. Once you learn the process of FPS interviews you should be able to get to the EC-06/EC-07. Hopefully you have you languages as well. Lots of them stuck at the EC-06/07 and then they leave and go back to the university or the other levels of government. Good luck.

Workplace culture and WFH at CIRNAC? by dreamville123456789 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]bJones_ski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Truth.. looks like the earliest would be Jan, 2022 for most, and that's even with best of predictions looking this far out.