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PSAC members denied 699 leave may apply for reconsideration by November 4

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PSAC members who applied for and were denied 699 leave between November 2020 and March 2022 may be eligible to apply for reconsideration.

On March 7, 2022, the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) issued its decision concerning the proper application of 699 leave.

Following the release of this decision, the FPSLREB recommended a process to resolve issues involving individuals who unsuccessfully sought 699 leave in writing during this period but did not present an individual grievance. This process is now being made available to PSAC members.

What is the process to request 699 leave reconsideration?

PSAC must present a request to the employer for reconsideration on behalf of its members. This request must include all documents initially submitted to the employer between November 9, 2020, and April 1, 2022.

In the event the request is denied, an independent member of the FPSLREB will review the application and make a recommendation. The employer has agreed to be bound by the recommendation.

Do I qualify for 699 leave reconsideration?

To qualify for 699 leave reconsideration, you must meet all the following requirements:

  • You submitted a request in writing for 699 leave between November 9, 2020, and April 1, 2022.
  • Your request was denied, and you did not file a grievance.
  • You were financially disadvantaged by having to use sick or vacation (annual) leave.

What steps must I take?

Individual reconsideration requests must be submitted to PSAC by November 4, 2024, and include all relevant written documentation, such as letters, emails, or messages that support your request for reconsideration. Please complete the request form, which has been created to expedite processing times.

If you have questions or need additional support, please contact us by selecting “699 Leave” in the dropdown menu.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

COVID-19 Update — Follow-up to question on use of 699 leave

Image of border crossing with the words "COVID-19"

The following message was sent by the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. 

We are following up on the question which was raised during our COVID-19 Update call on Tuesday.  With regards to requests from employees to take the child/person for whom they have a duty of care to get the COVID vaccine, our guidance to Departments is the following:

  • The employee should first try to schedule the vaccination appointment outside of work hours or work flexible hours to make up the time taken.
  • The employee can schedule family related leave to bring a child / person for whom they have a duty of care to the vaccination appointment.
  • If that is not possible and all Family related leave has been used, the employer could grant 699 leave for a reasonable time period to get the vaccine as this is related to COVID.

Paid 698 leave available for federal employees getting vaccinated

Image of arm about the receive a vaccine

As the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination begins to gain momentum, PSAC would like to remind all federal employees that they can request paid 698 leave to attend their vaccination appointment.

With the 698 leave, employees have access to up to a half-day of paid leave to attend a medical or dental appointment. This includes an appointment for vaccination, and time to travel to and from the vaccination site.

The paid leave is possible under a Treasury Board policy covering medical and dental appointments, but PSAC has been in discussions with Treasury Board to ensure that employees who are getting a vaccine that require a booster are also entitled to paid leave for the second vaccination.

However, since 698 leave is only available to employees of the federal government, we ask that provincial and territorial governments follow the federal Treasury Board example and not penalize employees by docking their pay when they protect themselves and their community by getting the COVID-19 vaccine. All workers, regardless of their jurisdiction, should be able to get vaccinated without worrying about their paycheques.

If you have any questions about your rights on the 698 leave, reach out to your local shop steward, your Component, or the PSAC regional office for help and support.

You can also consult our FAQ about your rights as an employee around COVID-19 screening and vaccination.

This article has also been posted on the PSAC website.