Non-union civil servants dismissed without cause in Nova Scotia will now be eligible for up to 80 weeks of severance under new regulations the province says will bring more clarity and consistency to compensation rules.
The Public Service Commission announced changes to the General Civil Service Regulations on Thursday, capping severance at 72 weeks’ pay based on four weeks per year of service, plus an additional eight weeks’ notice. The update took effect the same day following the formal proclamation of amendments to the Civil Service Act passed in March.
About 24 per cent of provincial civil servants are not represented by unions or associations. The new rules apply to this group and are intended to align Nova Scotia’s policies with those in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario.
“We value our employees and are committed to treating them with fairness and respect,” said Twila Grosse, Minister of the Public Service Commission. “The updated approach will allow the government to consistently align employee skill sets with the needs of Nova Scotians as they change over time, while ensuring an impacted employee receives reasonable compensation.”
The updated rules also eliminate provisions related to layoffs for non-union and non-association staff, which the province says are no longer necessary.
