The PSS focuses on employees and their contribution to the delivery of government programs and services. It provides leadership and/or support with respect to:
Responsibilities for the Treasury Board Committee of Cabinet (“the Board”) have been conferred primarily through the Financial Administration Act and various pieces of labour legislation. For example, the Public Service Collective Bargaining Act gives responsibility to the President of Treasury Board for collective bargaining in the public service. The Financial Administration Act specifically identifies the following human resource (“HR”) responsibilities for the Board:
The Human Resource Management Strategy (“HRMS”) was developed to help government departments and central agencies achieve their goals and objectives by ensuring that employees are focused on service excellence in the delivery of programs and services to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Given the broad scope and nature of government’s HR function, the PSS engages in multiple lines of business. Generally speaking, the PSS endeavours to provide:
Specifically the PSS provides support in the following areas
1. Classification and Compensation Division
The Classification and Compensation Division is responsible for job evaluation and salary management services in government departments, regional health authorities, education boards, select crown corporations and various agencies. The Division also conducts research on a variety of compensation issues in support of fair, equitable and consistent compensation for all employees.
2. Collective Bargaining
The Collective Bargaining Division provides professional labour relations advice and services to the Board, government departments and public sector organizations. These services typically include the negotiation of collective agreements and settlements, grievance and arbitration resolutions, employee relations training for managers and formulating labour relations policy options and recommendations for the Board and government departments.
3. Employment Equity for Persons with Disabilities
In order to increase the representation of persons with disabilities in the provincial public service, the Office of Employment Equity for Persons with Disabilities offers a wide-range of employment services and programs. Examples include the Opening Doors Program, the Targeted Wage Subsidy Initiative and the Enabling Resource Centre. The Office also provides information, advice and training to government employees.
4. French Services
The Office of French Services develops and supports the ability of government departments and central agencies to deliver programs and services in both of Canada’s official languages. Typical services include French-language training, translation, linguistic support and community liaison. The Office acts as government’s primary point of contact for the Francophone community and also provides support to the Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs.
5. Human Resource Policy and Planning
Government’s capacity for strategic human resource management is supported by HR policy, planning, research, and information systems. The Policy and Planning Division provides leadership and expertise in each of these areas to ensure that government departments and central agencies can effectively manage their human resources. The Division is also responsible for coordinating business planning, annual reporting and information requests for the PSS.
6. Learning and Development
Executive development, leadership and management development, technology-based learning and development, as well as department specific consultation, are the core perspectives of the various programs and services offered by the Centre for Learning and Development. The Centre often collaborates with departments and agencies to provide government employees with learning opportunities that are unique, important and practical.
7. Organizational Management and Design Division
The Organizational Management and Design Division is responsible for evaluating organizational paradigms (i.e., procedures, resources, initiatives) and how organizational structures can be improved. Recommendations for change, followed by proper change management, help ensure that government programs and services are delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible.
8. Strategic Initiatives Division
The role of the Strategic Initiatives Division is to provide HR management advice and to support the Human Resource Management Strategy through the planning and development of programs and services related to functional areas of HR service delivery. Primary client groups include the Strategic HR Management units, deputy ministers, executives and managers in all government departments and central agencies.
The various offices of the PSS are located in the East and West Blocks of the Confederation Building, St. John’s.
West Block divisions:
East Block divisions:
In the regions, two PSS divisions are represented: