The Public Service Alliance of Canada says the federal government is now asking some members to reimburse overpayments caused by the Phoenix pay system that would exceed the six-year statute of limitations.
Phoenix is this payroll system, designed by the private sector, and which was implemented in the federal public service in February 2016. It caused several problems: workers who were underpaid or not paid for a certain period of time or who were overpaid then asked for a refund.
However, according to the pan-Canadian union of federal public servants, Ottawa would have in certain cases, this year, claimed the reimbursement of an overpayment that would go back more than six years, which would exceed the limitation period provided for in the Accountability Act. state civil and administrative litigation.
The Alliance wrote to its members about this to warn them.
Ottawa can request such a refund, but “cannot force someone to pay an amount nor recover it without obtaining their consent beforehand”, supports the PSAC in this message.
“It is both upsetting and completely unacceptable that our members have been receiving overpayment notices dating back more than six years. The only conclusion we can draw from this is that the employer sends these recovery requests knowing that the statute of limitations has expired and hoping that the members will not notice it and agree to pay, ”writes the large pan-Canadian union.
The Alliance provides guidance to its members on how to proceed and also advises them to consider filing a grievance.
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