Date issued: 01/04/1991
Revision Date: 27/06/2017
Purpose
To recognize Government of Saskatchewan employees for their long service contributions to the province on their 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 year service anniversaries.
Policy Statement
The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes public service employees for dedicated service and the contributions they make to the province during the course of their employment.
Objectives
This policy aims to provide recognition for employee’s service and loyalty to the public service in Saskatchewan.
Principles
Employee recognition is an integral piece of employee engagement, which is a core focus of the Government of Saskatchewan. Providing recognition to employees supports a culture of recognition and contributes to employee engagement across the organization. Recognition should be both meaningful and fiscally responsible.
Application
Service Year Milestones
Employees are recognized in accordance with their years of service as follows:
- 5 Years of Service - Letter or Certificate signed by the employees' Division Head or equivalent;
- 10 Years of Service - Long Service pin;
- 15 Years of Service - Letter or Certificate signed by the employees' Deputy Minister or equivalent;
- 20 Years of Service - Long Service pin;
- 25 Years of Service - Long Service Recognition Banquet attendance, a Long Service pin, gift valued at no more than $250.00 and a congratulatory letter from the Premier;
- 30 Years of Service - Long Service pin; and
- 35 Years of Service - Long Service Recognition Banquet attendance, a Long Service pin, a gift valued at no more than $350.00 and a congratulatory letter from the Premier.
Presentation of Awards and Gifts
- At 5 Years of Service, the letter or certificate is signed by the employee's Division Head or equivalent.
- At 15 Years of Service, letter or certificate signed by the employee's Deputy Minister or equivalent.
- The presentation of pins is made at the ministry level by the Deputy Minister or designate.
- At 25 and 35 Years of Service, gifts are provided through the online long service gift catalogue.
Long Service Banquet Attendance
The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes some employees will need to travel in order to participate in the Long Service Recognition Banquet. In order to ensure that all honourees can fully and safely participate, eligible employees, upon advising their manager of their eligibility, shall receive:
- Reasonable time off with pay in order to attend the Long Service Recognition Banquet;
- Reimbursement for travel in accordance with the government rates;
- Meal expenses and hotel accommodations, according to approved government rates, for employees (plus one guest per employee) that are headquartered in a location other than the city in which the banquet is to be held;
- Ministries are responsible for the payment of all travel expenses. Employees who travel are to submit travel expense claims after the banquet following the normal process. The PSC Program Coordinator will make arrangements for the employee to receive their gift, congratulatory letter from the Premier and pin if the employee is unable to attend the banquet; and
- Employees who live in the location of the banquet are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event.
Anniversary Date
The date which an employee qualifies for long service recognition. No rounding up of service time permitted.
Eligible Service
Includes all accumulated years of service with a Government of Saskatchewan ministry or agency whose appointments are made under The Public Service Act.
Calculation of Eligible Service
- Employees who retire or whose positions have been abolished, in the fiscal year they would have attained a milestone of service, are still eligible for recognition. Employees who have resigned or are terminated are not eligible.
- Time on definite leave is counted as service when the employee returns to work.
- Time spent on indefinite leave may be credited as service for employee recognition under the following conditions:
- If an employee has applied and is eligible for disability income benefits (employer or union plan), all time is counted;
- If performing alternate work for the employer with no break in service, all time is counted; and
- If the leave is for other reasons, the first 90 days are counted.
- Ministries may include employees in their list of eligible employees if the employee is unable to return to work on their 25th or 35th year anniversary date because they:
- Are on definite leave for medical reasons; or
- Are on indefinite leave and have applied and are eligible for disability income benefits (employer or union plan) and began their leave within three years of the anniversary date.
- Time spent on the re-employment list is credited as follows:
- The first 90 days are counted.
- Periods of time that constitute a break in service are not included. For the purpose of this policy, a break in service means any resignation from the public service, dismissal, or an interval of non-employment greater than 180 consecutive days. (Note: resignation does not include resignation to accept another position within the public service.)
- Labour service employees are deemed to have earned one year of service per season of work.
- Part-time and casual employees are deemed to have earned service from the date of employment regardless of the number of days worked during a particular year, provided no break in service occurs.
- Employees who have worked for a crown corporation, agency, board or commission of the Saskatchewan Government may include that service by providing proof of service.
- Time spent with the federal, municipal, or any other provincial government or any service with district health boards, boards of education in Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, any SGEU bargaining unit or service as a paid staff member of SGEU is not counted towards long service except in the following circumstance:
- An entire function(s), program(s) or service(s) and the related positions are formally transferred to the provincial government.
NOTE: For labour service, part-time employees and term employees the years of service calculations for determining long service recognition and vacation entitlements are the same (except that credited pensionable service from the federal, municipal or any other provincial government is not eligible for long service recognition).
Responsibilities
Ministry
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Financial project code 902113 is to be used to capture costs associated with this policy.
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Ministries are responsible to confirm the list of employees in the Ministry who will reach their service year anniversary date during the upcoming fiscal year. The Ministry is also responsible for travel expenses for honourees.
NOTE: If an employee declines a banquet, they are still eligible to receive a gift and will be honoured with a letter from the Premier. Ministries should request written confirmation from those employees who choose not to be honoured. Employees declining this opportunity will not be given another opportunity should they change their mind.
Program Coordinator (PSC)
- Reviews the anticipated cost at the beginning of each fiscal year.
- Arranges for and distributes 10, 20 and 30 year long-service pins to ministries for presentation to employees by their Deputy Minister or designate.
- Coordinates with Ministries the letters/certificates from Division Heads and Deputy Ministers for the 5 and 15 year service milestones.
- Coordinates gift purchases for 25 and 35 year employees.
- Coordinates all arrangements for the long service recognition banquet.
- Sends invitations to 25 and 35 year employees and their guests.
- Arranges for congratulatory letters from the Premier.
- Acts as Master of Ceremonies.
Designated Senior Representative from the Public Service Commission
- Acts as Master of Ceremonies.
Chair of Public Service Commission
- Extends greetings on behalf of the Public Service Commission.
Premier or Representative of the Premier
- Extends greetings on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan.
- Presents long service pin to the employees.
Authority
Financial Administration Manual Policy #4315.
Policy Inquiries
For inquiries, please contact the Human Resource Service Centre.