Conversion of Position Attachment or Employment Status Policy

Policy Statement

The Public Service Commission (PSC) recognizes that there are situations where a conversion of the status of employment or the attachment of an employee to a position is appropriate and based on merit.

There are two types of conversion (changes in status) processes that the employer may wish to employ:

  1. Change in Position Attachment (i.e., an employee’s attachment to a position may be changed to permanent appointment); and,
  2. Change in Employment Status (i.e., an employee may be converted to permanent status).

Application

This policy applies to all organizations specified in Schedule A of the Public Service Commission Act (PSC Act) and to positions in those organizations not otherwise excluded by Section 4 thereof.

Definitions

For the purpose of this policy:

Classification – the identification of a position by reference to an assigned classification method.

Continuous Service – solely as applied for the purpose of conversion, continuous service is 24 months of consecutive, uninterrupted employment at the same classification level and occupational group with the same employer.

Delegated Staffing Authority – delegated authority from the PSC to another government entity to exercise and perform powers and functions of the PSC related to appointment and promotion.

Permanent Employee – a person who has completed the probationary period and is employed to hold office without reference to any specified date of termination of service.

Permanent Status – post-probation employment without reference to a specific date of termination of service.

PSC Approved Assessment Processes – defined processes, procedures and standards based on merit and designated by the PSC to assess candidates for appointments to and promotions within the public service.  All assessment activities will be conducted by a Selection Board.

Selection Board – a designated panel/committee led by a Selection Board Chair, convened to conduct competitions for the recruitment of public service positions.

Selection Board Chair – an official who is certified and acting on behalf of the PSC on a Selection Board, convened to conduct competitions for the recruitment of public service positions.

1. Conversion – Position Attachment

Employees may be granted permanent appointment to positions where documentation can establish that:

  • the employee has accumulated the required continuous service;
  • the employee was appointed or promoted through a PSC approved assessment process;
  • the employer determines that there is an ongoing requirement for the employee’s services;
  • no other employee has ownership of the position; and,
  • the employee elects to accept the permanent appointment and to forfeit all rights to previously held position(s).

2. Conversion – Employment Status

During specified periods and for specified employees as determined by the employer, an employee may be granted permanent status where the following conditions have been met:

  • the employee has accumulated the required continuous service;
  • the employee was appointed or promoted through a PSC approved assessment process; and,
  • the employer determines that there is an ongoing requirement for the employee’s services.

Roles and Responsibilities

Employer

It is the responsibility of the Employer to:

  • identify the time periods and to which employees, conversion of employment status may be considered; and,
  • include all supporting documentation with the request.

Department/Agency

It is the responsibility of the Department/Agency to:

  • identify the employee and the position for which conversion of position attachment may be considered; and,
  • include all supporting documentation with the request.

Delegated Staffing Authority

It is the responsibility of the entity that holds Delegated Staffing Authority to:

  • confirm that all of the required criteria have been met to support the requested conversion;
  • submit the conversion request to the PSC for review and approval; and,
  • ensure that appropriate documentation is maintained.

Public Service Commission

The Commission shall:

  • review to ensure compliance with this policy;
  • provide guidance and interpretation of this policy; and,
  • adjudicate complaints related to the application of this policy, pursuant to the PSC Act.

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