Minister Provides Update on Workforce Impacts on the Public Service

Today, the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Human Resource Secretariat, provided an update on workforce impacts on the core public service. To date, 167 individuals have been advised that their positions have been eliminated. While bumping may occur in the coming weeks among bargaining unit employees, there will be no further layoffs until after Budget 2013.

“In order to ensure that employees are provided the necessary supports and services that they deserve, notifying employees of their positions being eliminated has taken time,” said Minister Kennedy. “Each employee is advised in person through a meeting with human resource staff. This process cannot be rushed and as a result can take multiple days. It is important that our human resource policies are followed and that employees are treated in a professional and respectful manner.”

In individual meetings, human resource staff advise employees of their employment status. Employees are offered employee assistance counselling and other support mechanisms, and are provided an opportunity to ask questions. Given a limited number of human resources staff and to ensure all employees are given the time they deserve, the process takes time. The Provincial Government is committed to treating impacted employees in a professional, compassionate and respectful fashion.

“With salaries and employee benefits making up approximately 55 per cent of the Provincial Government’s total expenditures and are as high as 70 per cent in some departments, it is impossible to reduce costs without impacting employees,” said Minister Kennedy. “As we work carefully through the budget process there will be no more layoffs until after the budget. Our approach to advising impacted employees will continue to be based on ensuring that employees are treated respectfully.”

Initiatives such as the temporary suspension of recruitment activities and a modest retirement incentive are measures introduced to help mitigate impact on the public service. There are approximately 9,000 employees in the core public service.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

2013 03 08             1:30 p.m.