Policy 4.1 - Lateral Transfer from Severely Isolated Locations

Effective Date: 05-May-98
Updated: June 3, 2003
Responsible Branch: Strategic Resources Branch

Management Services Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy explains lateral transfers of employees from severely isolated locations.

Policy

To encourage recruitment to isolated locations and to maintain employees' job satisfaction and productivity; qualified, eligible employees from severely isolated locations can apply for lateral transfers. This policy does not restrict the employees' option to apply for a lateral transfer under, PSERC's Personnel Management Policies, Public Service Act Directive, 3.1 or to apply on a competition via the usual staffing route.

Severely Isolated Locations

• Dease Lake
• Fort Nelson
• Hagensberg
• Queen Charlotte City
• Stewart

Qualified Employees

Employees are eligible for lateral transfers from severely isolated locations if they are:

• Scientific Technical Officer 18 and above
• Clerk R9 and above
• AO 18 and above
• FO 18 and above
• IS 14 and above
• TEO R16 and above
• Licensed Science Officer 2 and above
• Management Level 2 and above

Employees who meet one of the above criteria may qualify for a lateral transfer if they:

• have demonstrated strong skills, competent knowledge, and an ability to meet job performance expectations, and job performance has been documented by the employee's supervisor and verified through the District Manager's/Regional Manager's/BC Timber Sales Manager's/Fire Centre Manager's recommendation
• have been employed for three or more consecutive years at a severely isolated location

Available Vacancies

The employee is responsible for applying through their Regional/District/BC Timber Sales/Fire Centre Manager for a lateral transfer. At this time, employees will identify their preferred locations. The employee's preferred locations will be considered but the two locations offered to the employee will not be restricted to these stated preferences.

After ensuring that all eligibility requirements are met, the Manager will forward the employee's application to the Operations Assistant in the Assistant Deputy Minister of Operations office. The Operations assistant will work with BC Timber Sales, Protection, Field Services and Head Quarter Branches to monitor posting requests for suitable transfer opportunities.

All qualified, eligible employees who apply for a lateral transfer will be offered a choice of two locations in non-severely isolated districts anywhere in the province, as vacancies become available.

NOTE: Before being granted access to vacant positions under this policy, all employees will be required to serve a two-month waiting period which will commence after the ADM Operations' Office has received a copy of their application for lateral transfer from the Region.

Suitability Interview

An employee being considered for a lateral transfer may be required to attend a suitability interview.

If two or more equally qualified employees are interested in the same vacancy, an interview is conducted to select the successful employee, based on normal merit selection criteria.

Refusal of Transfer Opportunity

Employees will be offered two transfer opportunities. If both lateral transfer opportunities presented to them are refused, the employee must wait one year to requalify before further consideration will be given, unless there are special circumstances that may warrant a waiver of this condition by the ADM, Operations Division.

Approval

Transfers must be demonstrated as being in the best interest of the Ministry. All requests will be considered but may not be immediately approved due to operational concerns, such as recruitment or financial restraints.

Regional Managers, BC Timber Sales Managers and Fire Centre Managers are authorized to transfer employees within the scope of this policy to another location within their region. Inter-regional transfers, under this policy, will be authorized by concurrence between both managers. The Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations Division, must authorize District Manager lateral transfer requests.

**During periods of staffing restraint, PSERC approval may also be required for transfers that involve a geographic relocation.

In cases of disputes, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations Division, has authorization to finalize lateral transfer decisions.

All employees who apply for a lateral transfer will be notified, in writing, whether or not their application has been approved.

Relocation Costs

Relocation costs are borne by the receiving region or district, as per the terms and conditions of the relevant collective agreements and the terms and conditions for excluded employees.

Conditions of Employment

If the transfer is deemed a comparable position, the employee will not serve a subsequent probationary period.

References

• BCGEU Master Agreement
• BCPEA Master Agreement
• Consolidated Terms and Conditions for Exclusions, Schedule 5
• Personnel Management Policies and Procedures

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