Questions and Answers: Healthcare Worker Ebola Recruitment Campaign - Federal Employees
Employee Questions
1. Are there incentives for federal employees to volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross to assist with the Ebola outbreak?
Federal employees will continue to receive their full salary while they are on leave to volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross.
As federal employees will be on leave with pay, the Canadian Red Cross will not be paying these individuals for their services.
2. What types of jobs are available?
The Canadian Red Cross is currently looking for professionals who have the experience to fulfil the following positions:
- Ward Nurse
- Medical Doctor
- Psychosocial Support Delegate
- Water and Sanitation Delegate
- Infection Prevention and Control Delegate
3. Do federal employees need their manager/supervisor’s approval for leave with pay before leaving?
Yes. Federal employees will need to obtain the approval of their manager/supervisor for leave with pay before volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross. However, organizations will make every effort to support federal employees who wish to volunteer in this global effort to beat the Ebola outbreak.
Furthermore, we recommend that employees advise their manager/supervisor that they are interested in volunteering before applying online for an Ebola response job.
4. Do federal employees continue to be civil servants while volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross?
Yes. Federal employees will maintain their status as an employee on leave with pay. However, employees will be volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross, and the Canadian Red Cross will be responsible for arranging their travel, their accommodations, and ensuring their safety while they are training before their mission, during their mission, and for the three weeks following their mission.
5. How long are federal employees expected to volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross?
Federal employees will volunteer for a total of eight weeks. The Canadian Red Cross Ebola Response Job page states that every mission will initially be limited to four weeks in country due to the hardship of having to work under heavy personal protective equipment. Prior to leaving, the Red Cross will provide volunteers with mission-specific training, including an extensive practical course on Ebola and related safety procedures.
After a mission, the Red Cross will extend their contract by an additional three-week rest period, during which they will be instructed on how to self-monitor.
6. Are federal employees eligible for overtime and will they be considered on government travel status while volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross?
No. Federal employees will be on leave with pay from their position while volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross. As such, they will neither be eligible for overtime, nor considered to be on government travel.
Any travel while on the mission with the Canadian Red Cross will be in accordance with the policy of the Canadian Red Cross.
7. Are federal employees entitled to any other type of leave, such as annual or sick leave while they are away?
No. Federal employees will be granted leave with pay from their position for the entire period of time that they are volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross.
8. Are federal employees covered by any of the Foreign Service directives when they leave the country to volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross?
No. As federal employees will be on leave with pay from their position, the Foreign Service directives will not apply.
9. Who is eligible to volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross?
Any interested federal employee can apply. The Canadian Red Cross Ebola Response Job page outlines the types of positions and qualifications it is seeking. The Canadian Red Cross will determine and select those who are qualified.
10. Can federal employees participate in more than one mission?
Federal employees will need the approval of their manager/supervisor for leave with pay should they be selected by the Canadian Red Cross. However, organizations will make every effort to support federal employees who wish to volunteer in this global effort to beat the Ebola outbreak.
11. Are there any protocols in place for federal employees who volunteer when they return from West Africa?
The Canadian Red Cross and Canadian health authorities have protocols in place for persons returning from West Africa. Federal employees’ leave with pay status will cover the three-week rest and self-monitoring period following the mission.
12. What measures are in place to ensure federal employees’ safety and health during the mission?
Prior to leaving Canada, the Canadian Red Cross will provide mission-specific training to federal employees and will be responsible to ensure that the necessary safety measures are in place for the duration of the mission.
13. How will leave with pay status affect coverage under group benefit plans such as health care, dental and long-term disability for federal employees?
There will be no impact on federal employees’ health benefit plans. Their Public Service Health Care Plan, Dental Care Plan and Disability Insurance Plan or Public Service Management Insurance Plan will be maintained for them and their eligible dependents while they are away.
Their coverage, as well as their premiums and/or contributions will remain as they were before the employee took leave with pay.
14. How will leave with pay status affect federal employees’ pension plan coverage?
There will be no impact on federal employees’ pension as their participation under the public service pension plan and the Supplementary Death Benefit Plan, is maintained throughout their period of leave with pay. The period of absence counts as pensionable service; therefore, pension contributions and Supplementary Death Benefit Plan premiums will continue to be deducted from their pay as usual.
15. Will federal employees be entitled to/covered under any other insurance(s) through the Canadian Red Cross as the host organization?
The Canadian Red Cross, as the host organization, will advise federal employees of the group insurance entitlements they will have as a result of their participation in this recruitment campaign.
16. Will federal employees have access to any emergency travel assistance under the Public Service Health Care Plan for medical emergencies?
Yes, however, the Public Service Health Care Plan Emergency Travel Assistance is for medical emergencies only and applies only if federal employees are out of the country for less than 40 days.
Since the public service health benefit plans will continue while a federal employee is volunteering, there will be a coordination of benefits between the public service and Canadian Red Cross insurance benefits.
17. Will federal employees have Provincial Health Care coverage(s) while they are travelling as part of the Ebola recruitment campaign?
Yes. Before federal employees depart, they will need to advise their province/territory of residence that they will be out of the country.
18. What happens if federal employees sustain a work-related injury while volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross?
Federal employees will be covered. Since public service health benefit plans will continue while employees are volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross, there will be a coordination of benefits between the public service and Canadian Red Cross insurance benefits.
19. Will federal employees still have eligibility for long-term disability?
Yes, upon return to Canada and to their public service job, federal employees will still be eligible for long-term disability under either the Public Service Management Insurance Plan or the Disability Insurance Plan.
Since public service health benefit plans will continue while federal employees are volunteering, there will be a coordination of benefits between their public service and Canadian Red Cross insurance benefits.
20. Will federal employees be subject to the elimination period for long-term disability coverage should they become ill or injured while volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross?
Yes. Federal employees will be subject to serving the elimination period of 13 weeks before they become eligible for coverage under either the Public Service Management Insurance Plan or the Disability Insurance Plan.
Since public service health benefit plans will continue while employees volunteer, there will be a coordination of benefits between their public service and Canadian Red Cross insurance benefits.
21. Will insurance (life and accidental death and dismemberment) coverage continue for federal employees volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross?
If federal employees are unrepresented and covered under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan, insurances for life and accidental death and dismemberment will continue.
If federal employees are represented, they will need to verify with their individual carrier whether they continue to be covered while volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross. If they have coverage through a private plan, they will also need to verify coverage.
Manager/Supervisor Questions
22. Can managers refuse leave with pay due to operational requirements?
Yes. However, it would need to be under exceptional operational requirements as the Government of Canada is encouraging federal employees to volunteer in this global effort to beat the Ebola outbreak.
23. Can organizations backfill positions?
Deputy heads have the authority to manage their human resources issues as they see fit.
24. How long are federal employees allowed to be on leave with pay for volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross?
Federal employees selected will be eligible for leave with pay for up to eight weeks to volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross to assist the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
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