Ombudsman launches systemic investigation into delays in the administration of civilian classification within the Department of National Defence

Message from the Ombudsman | 1 August 2018

I am pleased to announce that my investigation into the administration of civilian classification at the Department of National Defence is now underway.

Over the past several years, my Office has received numerous complaints from civilian employees related to delays in the administration of civilian classification within the Department of National Defence. This includes complaints about outdated job descriptions that are not reflective of the work being performed and are not reviewed on a regular basis; outdated job descriptions can have a significant financial impact on employees. Civilians have also voiced frustration about lengthy delays in the processing of classification grievances. While we have seen some recent improvement, there are still specific areas of concern within the administration of classification. This investigation seeks to improve the wellbeing of the Defence community. I intend to publish the findings in a report in late 2018.

My Office undertook a preliminary review of these concerns that identified several issues within the administration of classification at the Department of National Defence. We subsequently published a number of Helpful Information products to educate civilian constituents about these issues.  

Civilian employees are an integral part of the Defence Community. There are more than 26,000 civilian employees at the Department of National Defence, serving in locations across Canada and abroad.  The Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, acknowledges that, “Defence civilians face different demands than many of their public service counterparts, and Defence is committed to meeting their needs accordingly.” I look forward to working closely with the Department of National Defence during the course of this investigation.

I encourage all the Department of National Defence civilian employees to consult our website regularly for updates, and to contact my Office with any questions or concerns about the delays in the administration of civilian classification, or any other issue affecting their wellbeing. We are ready to help.

Gary Walbourne
Ombudsman