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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the difference between the Public Service Secretariat and Public Service Commission?
2. How can I request the services of the Organizational Management and Design Division be engaged?
3. What is Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s approach to Human Resource Management?
4. Where can I access the Government’s Human Resource Strategy?
5. What is Government’s approach to the orientation of new employees?
6. What is Government’s position on Occupational Health and Safety?
7. Where can I find information about job classification and various pay scales?
8. Where can I find information about labour standards including hours of work and the provincial minimum wage?

Other FAQs

• Classification and Compensation Division
• Disability Employment Programs and Services
• Centre for Learning and Development
• French Services
• H1N1 Influenza

1. What is the difference between the Public Service Secretariat and Public Service Commission?

The Public Service Secretariat is the employer department of Government. It is the part of the organization that researches and establishes HR Strategies, sets policies and procedures for compensation and benefits, sets employer policies, negotiates with unions on behalf of Government, and other functions as outlined in the "About Us" section.

The Public Service Commission (Commission) is an arms-length organization that exists to protect our commitment to a politically neutral, professional and permanent public service. It does this by ensuring that merit principle guides the appointment and promotion to permanent positions within the public service. The Commission also carries out other functions which are best managed at arms-length from the employer, including the Employee Assistance Program, the Respectful Workplace Program and Appeals and Investigations. For more information on their mandate, please visit the Public Service Commission website.

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2. How can I request the services of the Organizational Management and Design Division be engaged?

• Formally: A letter from your Deputy Minister detailing your request or proposal should be submitted to the Deputy Minister, Public Service Secretariat to officially engage our services.
• Informally: Senior Management from all Departments/Divisions/Agencies can contact us at any time for advice on how we can assist you to better achieve your mandate.

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3. What is Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s approach to Human Resource Management?

Government is committed to making the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service a great place to work. It recognizes that investing in employees and becoming an employer of choice improves its ability to respond to the changing demographics of the province and to continuously improve on the primary goal of providing excellent service to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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4. Where can I access the Government’s Human Resource Strategy?

To view the most recent update to the Strategy, go to: “Creating Tomorrow’s Public Service… Excellence in Public Service Delivery” (531 KB)

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5. What is Government’s approach to the orientation of new employees?

Government has adopted a comprehensive onboarding strategy. It includes orientation to job-specific, departmental, and corporate information. While the first two categories vary greatly from job to job, the Public Service Secretariat has developed a standard corporate, on-line orientation handbook which is applicable to all employees and a checklist for new employees. Corporate in-person Welcome Sessions are offered on a regular basis. To access a recent version of this tool, click here, or contact Susan Pereira directly to request a copy, at susanmpereira@gov.nl.ca or 729-7593.

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6. What is Government’s position on Occupational Health and Safety?

As an employer, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment. For further information, please see our Occupational Health and Safety Policy

Additional Information/Resources

• Safety Guidelines and Information
• Occupational Health and Safety Branch Links
• Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Commission

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7. Where can I find information about job classification and various pay scales?

For information related to job classification and pay scales, please contact the Classification and Compensation Division, Public Service Secretariat.

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8. Where can I find information about labour standards including hours of work and the provincial minimum wage?

For information on labour standards for private employers, please contact the Labour Relations Agency.

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