Questions and Answers about H1N1 Flu Virus

---

* An asterisk indicates a new question and answer.

Critical Services and Work Assignments

Q1. How has the CFIA determined which services are critical and which are not?

As part of the overall business continuity planning process, the CFIA has:

• assessed services to determine which are likely to cause high degree of injury to Canadians and the government, if disrupted; and
• identified and prioritized critical services and listed the resources (personnel, contractors, suppliers, information, systems and other assets) that support them directly or indirectly, within or outside the Agency. Priority was assigned based on the maximum allowable downtime and the minimum service level required before high degree of injury will result. Services that must always be available, for which a disruption is not acceptable and immediate recovery is essential, are ranked at the top.

(Operational Security Standard – Business Continuity Planning Program, Section 3.2 c and d, business impact analysis)

Q2. What's the difference between "critical" and "essential" services?

Critical services: Under the Government Security Policy, Business Continuity Plans require employers to identify employees who provide support for critical services in the event of an emergency. If disrupted, critical services are likely to cause high degree of injury to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of Canadians, or to the efficient functioning of the Government of Canada.

In the event of an emergency, the CFIA's first priority will be to call upon those needed on an urgent basis to uphold safety and security, such as food safety, and animal disease control. As appropriate, the Agency will then expand to additional areas.

Essential services: Under the Public Service Labour Relations Act, employers and bargaining units enter into essential services agreements to identify the types and numbers of positions that are necessary for the employer to provide essential services during a labour disruption. Essential services are services, facilities or activities of the CFIA that are, or will be at any time, necessary for the safety or security of Canadians.

In the event of a strike, employees who are designated as supporting essential services would report to work as if a strike were not taking place.

The CFIA's Departmental Security Officer has the most current information on the Agency's business continuity plan.

Q3. Can the CFIA assign me to perform work normally done by others?

Employees may be required to perform a different mix of duties other than their ordinary duties, or duties they have not been previously called upon to perform, in the context of an emergency.

Every step should be taken to ensure that employees are only reassigned if

1. they are not being put at undue risk;
2. they are properly trained to perform the reassigned duties; and
3. they are properly compensated if the reassigned duties are at a higher classification.

For more information, please consult Section 7 of the Financial Administration Act.

*Q4. Do I get extra pay if I provide a critical service?

No. Should an employee be asked to substantially perform duties of a higher classification level or authorized work in excess of the employee's scheduled hours of work, then they may be entitled to acting pay or overtime pay subject to their collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment.

*Q5. If I provide a critical service, am I able to take time off to care for a family member who is ill?

Yes. Employees are encouraged to discuss the situation as soon as possible with their manager/supervisor to ensure that appropriate means of delivering the critical service are identified to ensure continuity.