Collective agreement
This directive is deemed to be part of collective agreements between the parties to the National Joint Council (NJC), and employees are to be afforded ready access to this directive.
Grievance procedure
In cases of alleged misinterpretation or misapplication arising out of this directive, the grievance procedure, for all represented employees within the meaning of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act, will be in accordance with section 15.0 of the National Joint Council By-Laws. For unrepresented employees the departmental grievance procedure applies.
Effective date
This directive is effective on March 1, 2022.
Purpose and scope
It is the policy of the government to provide appropriate items of clothing to employees where the nature of the work is such that special protection is required or where special identification at the local, national or international level will aid in the effective performance of duties and in meeting program objectives.
When clothing serves for both identification and personal protection, departments shall ensure that this directive is read in conjunction with NJC OHS Directive Part XII - Personal and Protective Equipment and Clothing and that the requirements of both directives are met.
Departments and agencies shall review their existing clothing policies to ensure that they comply with this directive.
This directive is intended to assist departments in ensuring that their practices provide adequate protection and identification for employees, are economical, equitable and reasonably consistent with those throughout the Public Service and are comparable with those for similar occupations outside the Public Service.
Application
This directive applies to all departments and agencies listed in Schedules I, I.1 and IV of the Financial Administration Act.
This directive does not apply to portions of the Public Service which are subject to other authorities, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or to commissions designated as departments under the Inquiries Act for the purpose of the Financial Administration Act.
Authorities
The President of the Treasury Board has delegated authority to approve exceptions to the directive. Requests for such exceptions should be made in the form of a letter to the Chief Human Resources Officer.
Such requests should be signed by departmental officials who have authority to sign submissions and should contain the same information as submissions.
Deputy heads have the authority to issue necessary items of clothing and determine the requirements for identification items except when the design of a uniform is changed. In this case prior Treasury Board approval must be obtained.
The introduction of new uniforms, or changes to a present departmental uniform policy, shall be subject to Treasury Board authorization.