Policies related to staff development for public service employees such as tuition and book allowances, education leave and employee orientation.
Follow the links below for individual policies
Date Issued: 01/10/1999
Purpose
To assist employees with an advanced education allowance to continue their development which is in the interest of both the employee and employer.
Policy
A permanent head (or designate), may approve up to 100% education allowance to be advanced to his or her employee prior to commencement of approved courses. This education allowance includes full or partial expenses for tuition, all registration related expenses, travel, books and examination fees for approved courses. For the purpose of this policy, books mean all related reference materials including books, course specific software and any other required course related resources.
Approval may be given for courses which pertain to governmental or ministry existing or future needs or job-related skills.
A permanent head (or designate) may waive the requirement for the employee to fulfill the obligations of the Promissory Note in instances where special circumstances do not permit the employee to successfully complete the course. A permanent head may require a Return of Service agreement with an employee, in a form determined by the permanent head.
Process
The approved education allowance will be paid to the employee prior to commencement of an approved course.
(1) Prior to Commencement of Course
Obtain ministry prior approval, which includes the completion of the
PSC's
Application for Tuition and Book Education Allowance form:
Section 1 – Personal Information (to be completed by employee) Note: employee is responsible for ensuring all costs are included prior to submission.
Section 2 –
Ministry Support (to be completed by ministry).
Section 3 – Promissory Note (to be completed by employee and ministry).
Once approved, a copy of the Application for Tuition and Book Education Allowance form
is forwarded to the ministry's Human Resource Service Team and the employee.
To support the maintenance of corporate statistics, the ministry: a) at the time of approval, immediately enters the data onto the Education Allowance Detail Screen in MIDAS; and b) upon payment to the employee, immediately completes the reconciliation process on MIDAS and checks off the Corporate Report Received box.
(2) Upon the employee successfully completing the course
The employee forwards proof of successful completion to the ministry’s Human Resource Service Team.
If the employee successfully meets the course requirements, he or she will not be required to reimburse the province for the said education support, unless a Return of Service agreement has been required by the employee's permanent head.
Costs outlined in this policy may be considered a taxable benefit, depending on the nature of the course:
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Courses taken for the maintenance or upgrading of employer related skills are non-taxable to the employee.
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Other business related courses not directly related to the employers business are considered non-taxable, such as CPR or first-aid training.
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Employer paid courses for personal interest or technical skills not related to the employer’s business are a benefit to the employee and are taxable.
Refer to the Financial Administration Manual (3182-Education Expenses - PDF format) for detailed information on application of the Income Tax Act.
The PSC will maintain responsibility for policy and regulation development, maintenance of service wide statistics and monitoring of program activity to ensure that the spirit of the policy is maintained.
Application
This policy applies to all employees subject to The Public Service Act, 1998
The Public Service Act, 1998
The Public Service Regulations, 1999, Part V, sections 75 and 76
Policy Unit, Public Service Commission
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Date Issued: 01/10/1999
Purpose
Education Leave is a "Partnership in Learning"; a mutually beneficial learning opportunity agreed upon between the employee and the employer. Education Leave provides the opportunity for government employees to enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities in areas identified by the department as critical existing or future needs as identified in the department's Strategic, Human Resource or Employment Equity Plans.
Policy
The Government of Saskatchewan supports
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Giving priority for applications which support the government's commitment to achieving employment equity;
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Giving special consideration to employees from rural and northern geographic locations where it is more difficult to recruit to these areas;
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Promoting the provision of a range of educational opportunities for all employees to enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities in areas identified as critical existing or future needs.
The authority for approval will be the responsibility of the permanent head supervising the employee. The approval will be based on the guiding principles of the program to a maximum of one calendar year. The applicant must reapply for approval for a subsequent education leave.
Departments will determine the calculation of allowance on the principle that education leave is of mutual benefit to the employee and employer. The department's permanent head will have the discretion to provide a range of support from 0% to 80%.
The calculation of the allowance may include salary during absence, tuition, all registration related expenses, books, travel and examination fees. Books mean all related reference materials including books, course specific software and any other required course-related resources.
Employees receiving an allowance do not qualify for any adjustment in the amount of their allowance based on annual increments, negotiated salary adjustments, or other changes to their education leave, except where otherwise provided by the collective agreement.
Education leave applicants are not eligible to receive additional support under the
Tuition and Book Education Allowance Program.
Process
The Public Service Commission
Will maintain responsibility for policy and regulation development, maintenance of service wide statistics and monitoring of program activity to ensure that the spirit of the policy is maintained.
Government Department and Agencies
May establish departmental committees to review education leave applications. The authority for approval of education leave applications resides with the department's permanent head supervising the employee.
Establishing departmental procedures for implementation of the Education Leave Program which includes:
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Identifying the department's critical existing or future needs as identified in department's Strategic, Human Resource and Employment Equity Plans;
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Reviewing all applications submitted;
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Revising, rejecting or approving all applications;
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Informing all applicants of decisions;
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Ensuring that applicants are aware of the conditions outlined in the Education Leave Program Policy and the
Education Leave Agreement; (PDF)
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Obtaining the bank prime interest rate to be entered on the Education Leave Agreement by calling the Investment and Liability Branch, Finance at 787-3905;
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Preparing a signed
Education Leave Application,
Education Leave Agreement and
Promissory Note and forwarding copies to the employee and to the Management Development Centre, Public Service Commission. These forms will be placed on the employee's personal file at the Public Service Commission;
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To support the maintenance of corporate statistics, the department:
a) At the time of approval, immediately enters the data onto the education allowance detail screen in I.P.S;
b) Upon payment to the employee, immediately completes the reconciliation process on I.P.S. and checks off the Corporate Report Received box. -
Preparing personnel action form HRS 111;
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Monitoring and managing all service commitments.
Guidelines
The following are guidelines which may be used when identifying department's critical existing or future needs:
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What are the issues, pressures facing your department?
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What existing or future skill requirements are needed to address these issues, pressures
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What knowledge, skills and abilities do your potential education leave candidates currently have?
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What knowledge, skills and abilities will the potential candidates acquire upon completion of the education leave?
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Will the knowledge, skills and abilities acquired by the potential candidates upon completion of education leave assistance address the issues and pressures facing your organization?
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Will the employment equity candidates' participation be consistent with the government's employment equity goals and the goals of the education leave policy?
Promissory Note and Return of Service Agreement
An employee who is granted an education leave, shall enter into a Return of Service Agreement which is equal to two times the amount of leave; for example, two months of service for one month of leave. An employee who is granted an education leave, shall sign a Promissory Note, agreeing to repay the Government of Saskatchewan for any outstanding amount of the education allowance or for any pro-rata portion of the service obligation not fulfilled. The applicant is required to successfully complete the course of study.
Application
The Education Leave Policy applies to all employees subject to The Public Service Act
Authority
PSA Regs, Part V, Sections 75 & 76
Inquiries
For inquiries, please contact the Human Resource
Service Centre.
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Date Issued: 01/10/1999
Purpose
To outline the provisions which enable employees to use specified types of paid leave to supplement Education Leave.
Policy
In instances where Education Leave is not supported at 100% of salary, the allowance may be supplemented by the contribution of vacation, other banked time or for out of scope employees, scheduled days off. For example:
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38 days absence at 50% support is equivalent to 19 days away at full support by the employer
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The allowance may be supplemented by the contribution of up to 19 vacation days, other banked time or scheduled days off. If the employee contributes five SDO and five vacation days and foregoes any pay for 9 days while on educational leave, this does not increase the cost to the employer beyond the originally agreed to rate of 50% support
Application
All employees appointed under the
Public Service Act
Authority
PSA Regs, Part V, Sections 75 & 76
Inquiries
For inquiries, please contact the Human Resource Service Centre.
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