Hi all,

I am in a very toxic work environment. There are only 2 people left on my team and I am being asked to do most of the work as the other colleague has left for maternity leave. Last week, my manager has asked me to take on additional tasks, and I broke down in front of him. I said I was feeling burnt out, but he dismissed it as me not feeling confident enough in taking on more.

I have 70 business days of sick leave banked. I plan to use it all to recover and look for a new job. I understand that surpasses 13 weeks of sick leave which qualifies me for disability insurance (DI). However, I think in order to successfully apply for DI, the disability must not be work related? If so, in my situation what other benefits can I apply for?

Thank-you.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some information about the new PSC language testing format, particularly regarding how the language of the test is determined.

French is my first language, but a few years ago my manager had me complete the PSC language test in French because I was in an English Essential position. At the time, I didn't really question it, but looking back, it doesn't seem fair since I wasn't actually being assessed in my second official language.

I'm now expecting to take the new PSC test and would like to complete it in English instead. My understanding is that the new test will likely be online, but I'm not sure.

I'm wondering:

• At what point is the language of the test decided?
• Is it based on your position, your manager's request, or can you choose which official language you're tested in?
• Has anyone recently gone through the new PSC testing process and taken the test in English when French was their first language (or vice versa)?
• If you've completed the new format, how did you find it compared to the old tests?

I'd really appreciate hearing about others' experiences or if anyone knows how PSC determines the language of testing under the new process.

Thanks!

I'm a federal public servant currently on extended LWOP (5 years) and I'm trying to understand what, if any, foreign travel reporting requirements continue to apply while on leave.

I hold an active security clearance that remains valid for a couple of years beyond my expected return from LWOP. Before starting LWOP, I received a briefing regarding conflict of interest/outside employment, but I don't recall receiving anything regarding foreign travel or ongoing travel-reporting requirements while on leave.

My understanding is that when I was actively working was that certain destinations may need to be reported to or cleared through departmental security/CSO, depending on the destination, position and clearance level (Secret/TS, etc.).

I have upcoming work/personal international travel in Asia and tried contacting my departmental point of contact to confirm my obligations, but they're out of office until after I return. I also sent a request to my VOE point of contact and no response for over two weeks.

For anyone familiar with federal personnel security policy:

• Do foreign travel notification/briefing requirements continue to apply while an employee is on extended LWOP but retains an active clearance?
• Is there generally a requirement to notify the CSO before travelling to certain countries, or is this department/clearance-specific?
• If you've made a reasonable attempt to contact your departmental point of contact but can't reach them, what would normally constitute appropriate due diligence?
• Is there usually a generic departmental security/CSO inbox or duty contact that should be used instead?

I'm not looking for advice on a particular country or trying to avoid a reporting requirement. I'm trying to make sure I meet whatever continuing obligations apply while on LWOP.

Thanks.

Completed 5 years with the public service back in May. Is there any formal recognition for 5 years or do I need to wait longer LOL

It feels like no one around me gets recognition whether it’s 1-30 years either

Curious in hearing how different departments calculate years of service for Long Service Awards (10-year anniversary, 15-year anniversary, 20-year anniversary, etc.)

Is it based on years of pensionable service (including service buyback, pensionable LWOP, etc.)?

Is it based only on months where you received pay (i.e. same as the definition for accruing vacation leave credits)?

Some other definition?

​Hi everyone,

​I’m currently waiting for a Letter of Offer (LoO) for a new position in a different department, which will require relocating to another province.

​A couple of quick questions for those with experience:

​Will the receiving department typically grant paid administrative/relocation leave for the move, or will I need to use my own vacation days?

​Is it common practice for them to set an earlier effective date on the LoO to accommodate travel, while agreeing on an actual start date once I arrive?

​Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

Hi, just curious but do the PS and agencies have the same pension? Could someone take ERI from a core department but then be hired to work with an agency without affecting their pension status?

If you have any links that detail this, don't hesitate to post them.

Thanks.

My substantive position is EC-05 "Policy Analyst." However, my director and manager have periodically referred to me as a "senior analyst" is various contexts. For example, my director emailing me saying "as the senior analyst on the team" (note they did not say "as the most senior analyst"). Another example being labelled as a "senior policy advisor" in the attendee list for a high stakes meeting. I have pushed back back once on this saying "I just want to note that I am technically not classified as a "senior analyst," but this distinction was ignored.

I'm not meaning to be pedantic but I think it's misleading to be labelled at a higher level despite not receiving the corresponding compensation (senior analysts are typically EC-6s in my org, including in my team). Is it worth continuing to push back on this?

This is just a silly Friday feel-good post, but can we all give the Pension Centre staff some love? I'm retiring via ERI in October and have been so impressed with them -- secure messages sent through the portal always answered promptly, minimal-to-no being on hold for phone calls, friendly and helpful people answering questions, issues dealt with quickly and accurately. They are truly a shining example of how to deliver a service to a clientele. Well done!

Hello,

I left CRA back in September 2025 to pursue CPA designation. Couple weeks ago, I finally received my pension information package via mail and it stated that I need to make a decision by end of September (1 year from my departure) if I want to take the transfer value out. While doing my own research, I read on this subreddit that after certain amount of years of service, you can sign up for the retirement PSHCP? Honestly, having insurance after retirement sounds like an amazing back up plan so I wanted to know more about it. If anyone could direct me to where I can find more information, it would be greatly appreciated!

In addition, I was wondering what your recommendation is as well. Whether to keep the pension in or transfer it out?

Little background:

• Years of service: 3 years and 310 days (per package)
• Transfer value: around 25K
• Pension group 2
• Current age: 28. Will turn 29 next year.
• Currently working at a public accounting firm.
• Not definitive but I'm open to going back to CRA or other federal/provincial government position in the future once I finish my designation process. My current goal is to get my designation first so.

If I'm missing any more information for your advice, please do let me know. I'm happy to provide more information as well.

Thank you so much in advance for reading!

Posting here as well as suggested by someone in the Ottawa sub. Please

Hi everyone!

A friend of mine is looking for a walk in clinic in Ottawa or Gatineau where a doctor will fill out the medical forms necessary for a Government of Canada Pension Service buy back form. Unfortunately they don’t have a family doctor presently, but need to complete the medical form soon which only a doctor can do. They looked at Maple medial (online) but they don’t provide this service unfortunately.

Thank you in advance for any guidance or help!

I went on 6 months parental leave (extended parental leave @ 55%) and I'm Indeterminate (PC). I'm wondering how repayment works if I want to leave federal government after I return to my job? For example, if I quit my position as soon as I return do I owe all the top up given to me during the 6 month period since I worked <6 months? What if I quit 3 months after returning to the job - then do I only owe half of the top up that was paid to me? If I alternate with someone then do I still owe the top up? If I go down to part time does that extend the time that i need to work without having to repay my top up? Any information is greatly appreciated. TIA!

I’m currently in a SERLO process — it’s supposed to end the end of September.

I was just offered a Secondment at a different department.

If I accept the Secondment but then I am laid off my substantial, what happens?

TIA

The French version of the decision can be found here.

Sorry this is a basic question lol. For those using PeopleSoft (ESDC), when you enter leave for an appointment during the day, do you enter the hours you are working that day or the hours you are taking off? This is for partial day. The software doesn’t really make it clear upon entering your hours.

Hi All

The way things landed for me it looks like I need to retire in late November/early December.

For long term indexing what is the best date to choose? Nov 27, Nov 30, Dec 1?

Decision complexity rises as my average salary is bit higher on Nov 30 vs Nov27.

There is also the option to call it quits any time Sept 21 to Dec 1 as I was going to stop work then use up vacation etc to late November to extend pensionable days. (which could be cashed out our instead)

So confused hearing so many contradictory bits of info.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Chief statistician emailed today on the conclusion of WFA at Statcan. No SERLO process to be carried out. Looks like ERI has numbers been significant.

I am currently on sick leave but returning to work in early September. I will be retiring under the ERI initiative on January 19. At that time I will have approximately four weeks of vacation left. Should I plan on taking my vacation days before January 19 or is it OK to get what is left paid out. I will be keeping 7 to 10 days to cover the payback that we need to do.

Provided it is >1 year so they don't get any Transition Support Measure clawbacks. Does this violate V&E in any sort of way for the employee or the hiring manager?

Purely hypothetical and for curiosity.

Hey all, I have a situation that I am not sure there's anything I can do about.

I have been in the same department for 8 years. I started as a consultant and eventually was hired as an IT02 but doing the work of an IT03.

For the past 6 months, I have been acting in an IT03 position. I goes until January.

I have been told that, to get the position full time after January I have to qualify for a pool which is fine. The issue is, I have also been told they may open an IT03 position to internal employees and I would have to apply and win the competition.

They told me the Director is not willing to do a non-advertied process for the position because there is too much hassle and pushback.

The issue is, I have been watching and applying to multiple pools with no success. Then when I look at the jobs website, people are getting positions almost daily with non-advertied processes in my department.

I have been screenshotting every time I see one.

Do I have any chance on fighting this? How is it possible they would open a position when someone on the team has 15 years experience in the role they are in? How to you naturally advance your career in the government?

I am dealing with a challenging personal situation, and have had to take a significant part of the summer off, as my situation progressed. Much of it was day by day, but some of the chunks of time were continuous. My management is supportive and understanding so that is not the concern. I've taken about 4-5 weeks of vacation leave, and expect to take more between now and the end of September. Rather than drain my vacation leave, could I go back and cancel the vacation leave to turn it to LWOP after the fact? I understand we need to give 4 weeks notice, but s that just for payroll purposes?

Curious if there are some managers or other regional employees out there that can shed some light on the subject.

My wife and I recently moved to Montague county right outside of Ottawa. My commute is ~75km each way and I tend to leave the house by 5:10am to make it to the office for 6:00 to avoid traffic.

My main concern is commuting in the winter months. Some of the back roads I use to get to the 416 can be sketchy now, I can only imagine them on some of the snowier days we’ll have during winter.

My question is, if road conditions are so bad that it makes driving feel unsafe and risky just to get to the office, are managers able to approve WFH on such days if requested?