Public Service Employees
CIHR is a separate agency of the Government of Canada, which allows us to establish human resources policies and programs that meet CIHR’s specific needs. If you are a public service employee joining CIHR, or considering it, you may have questions about what it means to work for a separate agency and how it may affect you. When you join CIHR, you will have access to the same benefits and entitlements that you enjoyed as a public service employee.
A word to employees of Federal Departments and Separate Agencies
Making the transition to CIHR: A continuation of your benefits, or similar ones
If you are currently employed in the federal public service, a transition to CIHR is usually seamless.
- Your total service in the public service continues without interruption and qualifies for determining your entitlements under leave provisions.
- Your annual vacation time (up to a maximum of 35 days) and accumulated sick leave are transferable.
- CIHR participates in the Federal Public Service Benefit Plans. If you are currently a member, your coverage will continue with no interruption. If not, you can enroll upon joining CIHR, depending on your employment status.
- CIHR has their own Compensation Advisors who can help make the transition from the core public service to CIHR a seamless process.
CIHR Benefit plans include:
- Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSA)
- Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB)
- Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP)
- Long Term Disability Insurance (LTD)
- Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP)
- Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP)
Frequently Asked Questions for Public Servants
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1. How will my salary or rate of pay be calculated?
Your salary will be calculated in accordance with the CIHR Salary Administration Policy. CHIR has its own pay scales by grade level; each grade level is associated with a salary range that includes a minimum and maximum amount. Prior to appointment at CIHR, the hiring manager will discuss your particular circumstances and provide the salary offer.
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2. Will my prior service count towards the accumulation of vacation leave?
Prior service in the public service may count towards the accumulation of vacation leave with a few exceptions, such as having received severance pay upon leaving a former employer.
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3. Will my unused vacation leave credits transfer with me to CIHR?
The transfer of unused vacation leave credits may occur, assuming that vacation leave has not been liquidated.
Earned but unused vacation leave credits up to a maximum of 262.50 hours (35 days) with your current employer may be transferred over to CIHR as long as there is no break in service between the two employments.
Such transfer is subject to the terms and conditions applicable at CIHR.
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4. What will happen to all of my other leaves balance?
All leave balances, with the exception of compensatory leave are transferrable to CIHR as long as there is no break in service.
If you have additional leave credits of any type and wish to know whether or not they may be transferred over, please discuss with your hiring manager and they will get you in touch with the Compensation Team.
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5. Can I transfer my unused sick leave credits to CIHR?
In general, any and all unused sick leave credits accumulated with a prior organization will be transferred. The transfer of sick leave from an organization in the public service to CIHR is based on the definition of continuous employment. This is a question for your hiring manager who will work with a Compensation Advisor to determine.
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6. Are my benefits affected if I accept an appointment at CIHR?
For instance: the Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSA), the Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB), the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP), the Disability Insurance Plan (DI), the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), and the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP).
Your public service benefits will not be affected upon being appointed on a term or indeterminate basis to a position at CIHR. CIHR participates in most of the plans mentioned above.
CIHR employees are non-represented employees, therefore are eligible for the Long-Term disability plan (LTD) rather than the Disability Insurance Plan (DI).
When you transfer from another government organization to CIHR without a break in employment, and you are already paying into these plans, all your benefits will continue without interruption.
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8. What collective agreements are in effect at CIHR?
CIHR is an unrepresented organization, therefore, no union dues will be applicable upon appointment at CIHR. CIHR is subject to its own terms and conditions of employment.
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9. What happens if I have recently returned from a leave without pay for which I received an allowance (e.g. maternity or parental leave) and I have not yet fulfilled the terms of my return to work agreement?
When you return from a leave without pay during which you received an allowance (e.g. Maternity or parental leave), there is an obligation to fulfill the terms of your return to work agreement.
It is important to verify this information with the hiring manager who will work with the CIHR Compensation team to provide you with more details.
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10. Will I lose the opportunity to be considered for other jobs within the public service by accepting an indeterminate appointment at CIHR?
No, consideration for other positions in the public service will not be affected by accepting an indeterminate position with CIHR. There are a number of staffing mechanisms available, outlined below, which allow CIHR employees to accept permanent or temporary positions in other organizations within the public service.
Some staffing mechanisms depend on whether an organization is considered to be part of the core public administration. The core public administration is made up of the departments named in Schedule I and IV of the Financial Administration Act.
Advertised Processes
The Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) states that employees of separate agencies, such as CIHR are considered to be "employees" of the public service, for the purpose of internal advertised processes. As a result, CIHR employees may be eligible to apply for positions, as long as they are in the Area of Selection and meet the other criteria, if any, established for the process.
Non-Advertised Processes
Core public administration organizations may appoint CIHR employees to any position in their organization, in accordance with the PSEA, when:
- Appropriate;
- Permitted by their organization's policies; and
- When the employee is deemed qualified.
Deployment
Persons employed at the CIHR cannot be deployed to the core public administration, to the OAG, or to the five separate agencies named in Schedule V to the FAA whose appointments are made in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA). The CIHR is unable to deploy employees from the core public administration.
Temporary Assignments
CIHR employees may accept temporary assignments with core public administration organizations through the Interchange Canada program. Secondment and acting appointments between the CIHR and separate agencies or the core public administration are not possible.
Notes:
- If you currently meet the education requirements of your position in the core public administration through a grand-parenting clause, you should discuss your particular situation with an HR Advisor at your current department before accepting a position at CIHR, as any potential future opportunities to return back into the core public administration, in that same group, may be difficult to obtain.
- Individual circumstances may vary. Employees should always speak to their manager, an HR Advisor and Compensation Advisor prior to making any decision.
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11. Additional Information about the CIHR
CIHR Holiday Season
Administrative Support Group and Professional and Technical Group Entitlements: Grade 4 – 10
Employees shall be given the opportunity to earn an additional 3 days of leave with pay between December 26 and January 1 by working an additional one-half hour per week during the year.
Senior Professional Group Entitlements: Grade 11 – 12
A senior professional shall be granted an additional 3 days of leave with pay between December 26 and January 1.
Executive group Entitlements: Grade 13 - 16
An executive shall be granted an additional 3 days of leave with pay between December 26 and January 1.
Performance Management Program
The Agency has its own unique performance management program, where all employees may be eligible to participate in the performance management program. This means that employees may be able to be compensated based on their achievement of results against performance objectives.
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