Att: UPSE Members in Civil Service (Message from the President about Adverse Weather and Storm Closures)
With the forecast of impending inclement weather, some members are wondering if you must work from home if your supervisor tells you to bring home your laptop to work, even if government offices are closed due to weather.
UPSE’s position is that the only civil service members who could be required to work from home when government offices are closed are those who have a Remote Work (Work from Home) Agreement in place, pursuant to Public Service Commission Policy 5.05, which must be in writing and be mutually agreed between the employer and employee.
In fact, UPSE has an outstanding policy grievance in place, based on Article 24.11, in which we assert that where the employer ceases operations due to storm conditions, employees will be considered on a leave of absence with pay. UPSE will seek to have this adjudicated as soon as possible.
HOWEVER, in the meantime, UPSE recognizes that employees have an obligation to comply with a direct order from their manager so as NOT to be considered insubordinate. Some issues and questions you may want to raise with your supervisor while complying with their instructions are:
1. I am not set up to work from home.
2. What provisions for client confidentiality/privacy are in place, seeing as I do not have a designated area in my home?
3. What if I am injured while working from home? Can you please confirm that I am covered by WCB?
4. If I lose power/internet during the storm, how do I code my time?
If you are required by your employer to work during a storm closure, and you are not participating in a Remote Work Arrangement, please contact UPSE so that we can take note of the details. This will assist UPSE in challenging this employer practice.
Please call 902-892-5335 or email peiupse@peiupse.ca
Karen Jackson,
UPSE President