Has anyone been successful in receiving WFH accommodations for medical reasons (any number of days)? I don’t mean interim accommodations from your manager, but approved accommodations from a DAS (disability accommodation specialist).
Hey everyone I know this has been a rough year. And I really appreciate all the people that have helped me navigate this BS AWA stuff. Its been a wild ride and I'm shocked at OPS, and the executive team in general. Just wild how they've managed to get away with so much.
On a happy note...I'm extremely pleased to announce that the House of Commons E7142 Petition to implement remote and hybrid work provisions into the labour code for Federally Regulated Industries has both reached over 50,000 signatures, and is the most active petition on the Parliament's website. The next milestone is 100,000 and I wanted to thank everyone involved. The time is almost up but a lot of you helped the next generation of workers and the future of work.
Now that its almost over, I was hoping to thank everyone who helped and pushed me along this wild ride. Most of you were on this forum so big shout out to you guys.
I honestly don't know how much longer I can keep doing this.
I'm exhausted. I'm frustrated. I feel like I'm constantly walking on eggshells because of the way my manager operates.
Everything feels controlled. Every interaction feels like it's being watched. Every question turns into an interrogation instead of a conversation. Instead of trusting employees to do their jobs, there's constant micromanagement, constant correction, and a need to be involved in everything, even when there isn't actually a problem.
The communication style is unnecessarily harsh and demanding. It often feels like the default approach is criticism instead of collaboration. Rather than creating a workplace where people feel comfortable asking questions or solving problems, it creates an environment where people become afraid to speak up because they expect to be criticized.
The expectations also feel inconsistent. What is expected in one situation doesn't always seem to be the expectation in another. That uncertainty makes it incredibly difficult to know where you stand or whether you're meeting expectations.
One of the hardest parts has been how this has affected my relationships at work. Instead of feeling like I'm part of a team, I increasingly feel isolated. Interactions with coworkers have changed over time, and it's hard not to feel that the overall environment has contributed to that. Whether intentional or not, it leaves me feeling unsupported and alone.
The worst part is what it does to your confidence. You start questioning yourself over every little thing. You replay conversations in your head. You second-guess decisions you never used to second-guess. You spend more energy trying to avoid being criticized than actually focusing on your work.
A manager has a huge influence on the culture of a workplace. A good manager builds trust, encourages people to think, and creates psychological safety. A poor management style can have the opposite effect. It drains confidence, increases stress, and turns even simple tasks into sources of anxiety.
I'm trying really hard to move into another position because I don't think this environment is sustainable for me anymore. I've applied for numerous roles, but I haven't been getting interviews, and it's becoming incredibly discouraging. After everything that's happened, I sometimes find myself wondering whether my current situation is affecting my ability to move on. I don't know if that's actually the case, but when you feel trapped in a difficult work environment for so long, it's hard not to question everything.
Right now, I just feel stuck. I want the opportunity to work somewhere I'm trusted, respected, and allowed to do my job without feeling like every interaction is another test.
Just wondering if people have heard if their colleagues have filed grievances for the AWA denials? Many of my colleagues didn't and I found it really disappointing that they just gave up.
Hello, my child has been going to daycare while I'm still on mat leave. He's been sick every single week for the 2 months he's gone so far. Illness ranged from mild (runny nose) to medium (fever) to high (infection needing antibiotics, vomitting, etc.). Is it ok for parents to ask for work from home when this happens? My child has been sick for an entire week and I'm worried he'll still have symptoms like coughing even after this week and the daycare is going to throw up a fuss about taking him in. I was also pretty sick for a couple of days, but after that I was would be ok to work if I'd already returned (just have a super hoarse voice, coughing, phlegm). I think it makes sense to work from home temporarily while kiddo runs around at home - it also keeps the workplace germ free.
For additional context:
I'm a full-time permanent employee, AMAPCEO represented.
Edits in bold and strike above to clarify.
Hi everyone, I’m currently on a STSP leave and have been away from work for just over a month now, and have extended it for 3 more months.
Last week, my manager emailed me and stated that they require the collection of my work assets (laptop, charger, and phone). Is this normal? I thought this is collected if you’re on LTD? How am I supposed to check my pay in WIN, access InsideOPS, etc.?
Is it just me or the SOC leadership town hall thing the other week - all the ADMs siting beside her looked like absolutely exhausted. They looked like zombies?
Just me? What are they doing to these ooor execs
Hi, Im fairly new to the OPS and dealing with a micromanager that genuinely has no respect for anyone’s time but their own. In previous roles, we had the opportunity to discuss manager feedback anonymously but given this is my first time working in a public setting, I assume this is not something possible here. It’s getting suffocating having to report to this individual, as it seems all rules apply to everyone but them.
Can someone please advise? Please Im not looking to be slammed for asking this question 😂
We are in the middle of an extreme heatwave and my branch only has tap water available at the office which we were told is unsafe to drink. This is madness.
What are my options? Seriously considering taking this to the press because I do not think my leadership cares about me or my team so I probably need to escalate to get clean water that is safe to drink at work.
Hello everyone,
I am on mat leave and top up period was about to end so I called OPSSA. I got this response from them via email (on my gmail).
______
You have full access to your benefits during your leave. The employer pays for all of your benefits except the Catastrophic Drug and Optional Upgrade Package.
• During your paid leave these will be paid from your sub allowance.
• During your unpaid leave the monthly cost will accumulate and will be deducted from your first paycheque when you return to work. Cheques are not required.
_______
Anyone returned from Mat leave recently? I just wanted to know the amount they deducted for health insurance as I know OPS pays a major chunk for health insurance, we pay like 20-25 dollars. Do they take only the employee's share or the total (employee + OPS) from the first pay check?
Thank you in advance.☺️
My role was eliminated at a government agency and was given two options:
A) either to accept pay in lieu of notice and sever ties with the organization; or
B) remain employed and be considered for direct assignment or displacement
Question is: during this period, I’m applying internally to OPS jobs, do I have to still be employed with the government agency for me to be hired internally for an OPS job or just during the time I applied?
Ideal outcome: I would still like to continue being part of the OPS in some capacity whether working for another agency or going back to a Ministry. But I’m unsure whether it hurts my chances being hired internally if I’m not currently employed by the OPS?
Many thanks in advance for any insights! Thank you.
Hi everyone,
I was curious what everyone’s experience was dealing with a return to work after a month or so of sick leave from Short Term Sickness Plan. I am expected back at work in around August unless my condition doesn’t improve. Were you placed back at your desk you had before? How did you handle questions about your leave ? I gave my work the doctors note that wrote me off for a period of time and asked if they have any forms for my doctor to fill out to let me know. They haven’t reached out since giving that letter. Should I be expecting something else to be filled out ? Has anyone gone in on a reduced schedule until reaching full time again ? I am permanent full time with 36.25 per week hours. Haven’t gotten hit with my reduced sick days pay yet until tomorrow. Hoping to go back to once my time off ends.
Are others' OPS offices also sweltering hot this week. I alerted admin to it being too hot yesterday morning but hasn't really improved. Anyone know of iphone app I can use that takes indoor temperatures (thinking of keeping a record of hot office temperatures to present to admin)?
Im currently debating taking a pretty big pay cut (and vacation) to come to OPS from a municipality. I currently have 15 years in an OMERS pension and just trying to figure out how it would transfer and if I’d need to pay anything additional. Does anyone have insight?
I’m sure I’m going to get the why question but it’s less about money and just needing a change. I’m also intrigued about the ability to move into different roles and hopeful that will help my feeling of stagnation. Additionally, I am trying to negotiate a higher level of starting way because of the pay discrepancy. What’s your experience with this? How long does the process usually take (it’s been a while since I’ve heard anything)?
I’m in the process of getting ab accomodation for medical reasons , I recieved a health questionnaire in the mail that my family doctor has to complete and send to Disability accomodation services.
The clinic just quoted me $350 + HST for the form, which is fairly long (around 15 pages)
-Is this a normal cost for medical accommodation forms in Ontario?
-Is there any policy in the OPS about covering these types of medical documentation
-Has anyone had success getting this reimbursed ?
If I am moving teams within the same OPS agency, will reference checks be conducted yet once again? I already provided them with references just last year when I joined but I'm now eyeing a position with a different team due to my tenuous relationship with my current manager.
Does anybody have any insight into how long it takes to process merit increases on WIN? Is there a bottleneck?
People,
Is there anything more frustrating than having your priority work interrupted late afternoon for an unforeseen message assigning you action on an item that needs two or more levels of approval for the next morning..... and when you click the link to the document you don't have access?
To whoever is sending such messages, please make EVERYONE's life easier and just give broad OPS access from the outset. I mean..... there are now people waiting for you to get around to approving access - and tell me, do you really want to get those emails requesting access? Also - do you make any effort to vet the requests, and are they ever denied?
Here's the risk with sending a broad link:
Someone who wouldn't be working on this has to receive the link.... and then they would need to decided to access it.... and then there is a small risk that information MIGHT go into the wrong hands, or be changed inadvertently. Are we really concerned that there is going to be information leaked or nefarious intent for dealing with the risk register request that is going to be issued to dozens of people?
If ya gonna be a bureaucrat, please at least think about your work and attempt to mitigate the pain of this brain wasting work environment, where thousands of salary dollars are meaninglessly wasted in responding to administrative tasks.
I’m a perm employee in OPSEU and have just hit a vacation increase. I’m a Girl Guide leader and take my youth out on a 4 day back country camping trip annually and end up taking 1-2 vacation days to cover it. Of course it’s a luxury to be able to do this but I’m curious if anyone’s been able to take a different type of leave to cover volunteer hours? I.e. compassionate leave etc.
I recently took a 9 month secondment that is amapceo. Do I get the additional vacation credits prorated that amapceo positions get?
My home position is opseu