Headquarters 11.1 This article applies to employees who do not attend at or work at or work from any permanent ministry facility in the course of their duties, but for whom a permanent ministry facility or other place is designated as an employee’s “headquarters” for the purposes of the provisions of this Central Collective Agreement and of various allowances which require a headquarters to be specified.
11.2 A ministry may designate a headquarters when an employee is initially appointed to a position, or when a position is filled by an employee in accordance with Article 6 (Posting and Filling of Vacancies or New Positions), Article 7 (Pay Administration), Article 20 (Employment Stability) of this Central Collective Agreement. All job postings, notices and offers in relation to positions covered by this article shall include the designated headquarters for the position. This designation shall be the location considered by the ministry to be the most convenient for the efficient conduct of the ministry’s business, having regard to the ministry’s projection of the location of the employee’s work assignments for a period of two (2) years. It is not a requirement that the designated headquarters be a facility whose functions are related to the work to be performed by the employee, and the employee’s residence may also be designated as his or her headquarters. The Employer will supply to the Union, by December 30 of each year, a current list of headquarters designations for employees covered by this article.
11.3 By mutual agreement in writing between the ministry and an employee, a new headquarters may be designated for an employee at any time, and by mutual agreement in writing between the ministry and the employee, a temporary or seasonal headquarters may be designated for a stated period, following which the previously designated headquarters will be reinstated unless it has been changed in accordance with this article.
11.4 A ministry may change the headquarters of an employee covered by this article, if:
(a) the employee’s residence has been designated as his or her headquarters and he or she subsequently initiates a change of residence; or
(b) a ministry facility which has been designated as the employee’s headquarters ceases to operate as a ministry facility; or
(c) the employee is assigned to a work location or work locations at least forty (40) kilometres by road from his or her existing headquarters, and it is anticipated that the employee will continue to work in the area of the new work location or work locations for at least two (2) years.
11.5 Where a ministry exercises its right to change the headquarters of an employee otherwise than by mutual agreement with the employee, the following procedure will apply:
(a) The ministry shall first give notice to the employee of its intent, and shall consult with the employee to determine the employee’s interests and the employee’s preferences as to the new headquarters location.
(b) The ministry shall determine the new headquarters location in a way which is equitable to both the employee and the ministry.
(c) The employee shall be given three (3) months’ notice of the change in designation of the headquarters.
11.6 Where it is necessary to identify which one or more of a group of employees is to be assigned to a new headquarters, the employees to be reassigned shall be identified by considering the qualifications, availability, and current location (home, closest facility and work location). Where qualifications, availability and location are relatively equal, length of continuous service shall be used to identify the employee to be reassigned.
11.7 Employees who relocate their residences because of a change in headquarters, other than a temporary or seasonal change, in accordance with this article, shall be deemed to have been relocated for the purposes of the Employer’s policy on relocation expenses.
