# 2024-097 Pay and Benefits, Pay, Pay Increment

Case summary

F&R Date: 2025-06-23

The grievor disputed the calculation of his Pay Increment (PI) anniversary date, arguing that the date of progression to their next PI should be the date they were promoted to their current rank of Captain instead of the date they achieved an unrestricted license to practice medicine and became entitled to receive Medical Officer (MO) pay in accordance with the Compensation and Benefits Instructions for the Canadian Forces (CBI) 204.216. 

Despite the grievor requesting Final Authority (FA) review after the Initial Authority (IA) exceeded the deadline for a decision, the IA provided a draft decision letter. The IA noted that CBI 204.216 did not include specific direction when calculating PI anniversary date and that therefore CBI 204.015 should apply to calculate the next PI. The IA noted that CBI 204.015 states that members shall be paid the next higher PI for their rank in the applicable CBI if they have met performance standards and completed one year of qualifying service. Since progression through pay ranges is specific to the applicable CBI table, the draft decision indicated that the grievor's progression to the next PI was based on the date they met the conditions of eligibility for MO pay in CBI 204.216.

The Committee first noted that the grievor's initial PI determination upon becoming entitled to MO pay was not in dispute and that the only issue was the PI anniversary date. The Committee referred to previous FA decisions on grievances regarding pilot pay PI anniversary calculations where it was established that meeting performance standards was not synonymous with becoming qualified in an occupation or achieving a specific qualification. The Committee agreed with this approach and found that the grievor had met the established performance standard at all times in question. The Committee found that there was no provision in either CBI 204.216 or CBI 204.015 that served to reset the grievor's qualifying service upon becoming entitled to MO pay, and that therefore on every anniversary date of his promotion to Captain, the grievor would complete one year of qualifying service that entitled the grievor to progression to the next PI until the grievor was promoted to the next rank. 

The Committee recommended that the FA adjust the grievor's PI anniversary date to that of his promotion to Captain with associated backdated pay.