Information for employees of Public Safety Canada: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
All employees to work from home
As we continue to deal with the pandemic, we ask all employees to work from home if possible and to come to the office only when needed.
Working from home and limiting the number of staff in the workplace is designed to protect you, our colleagues who have to work at the office, and our community, and it is part of our collective effort to hold the line against this dangerous virus.
If you need to work at the office, please ensure you have your ADM’s approval to do so before going in. We encourage you to speak to your manager if you have any questions or concerns about this.
Employees who are supporting critical services and cannot work remotely can continue to travel across provincial and territorial borders to go to their workplaces, as needed. Employees who must travel to the workplace should always carry government identification and other valid photo identification. Please contact your manager should you require a circulation letter in the event that authorities request further proof of your need to travel .
Our actions are guided by the decisions of public health authorities. It is essential that we all do our very best to stay safe and limit further spread of the virus. Given the uncertainty about the current trend in risk and the concerns it brings, the implementation of our action plan for the easing of restrictions in the workplace will be revisited in the new year. We continue to monitor the situation and will share further information as it becomes available.
Follow the current situation in Canada, learn about the risks of COVID-19 and find out how the situation is being monitored by visiting the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 outbreak update page.
If you have any questions, please raise them with your manager. For more detailed updates including blogs and internal emails, please log in to the corporate network and visit InfoCentral.
Vaccination for public servants
Vaccination is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for Canadians and to protect broader public health. The Government of Canada has a duty to ensure the health and safety of its employees in the workplace and is continuing to take action to get as many Canadians vaccinated as possible. On August 13, 2021, the Government of Canada announced its intent to require vaccination as early as the end of September across the federal public service.
Stay Informed
For the most up-to-date information and guidance for all public servants related to COVID-19 please refer to Canada.ca/coronavirus-publicservice or call the COVID-19 information line at 1-833-784-4397.
For information related to Public Safety office buildings regarding potential closures or emergencies please call the Staff Information Line at 1-866-843-0004.
For the latest updates from the Government of Canada on the COVID-19 situation, including preventative measures, please visit Canada.ca/coronavirus.
Working Remotely
Public Safety Guidance on Teleworking during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Guidance is provided with respect to supporting and protecting our employees and managers to keep them safe, providing suitable equipment and tools to do the job, and ensuring clarity in terms of responsibilities while working outside the office location. A set of evergreen Questions and Answers has been prepared to accompany this guidance during the pandemic.
Employee Illness
If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, reduce your contact with others:
- isolate yourself at home for 14 days to avoid spreading it to others
- if you live with others, stay in a separate room or keep a 2-metre distance
- we encourage you to self-assess for symptoms of COVID-19 through Health Canada’s online self-assessment tool and follow the advice provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
- visit a health care professional or call your local public health authority
- call ahead to tell them your symptoms and follow their instructions
It is important to remember that if you develop a fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing you should seek medical attention and report these symptoms to the occupational health and safety team and your manager.
Similarly, it is important that you advise the occupational health and safety team and your manager should you be tested for COVID-19.
Mental health and wellness
If you feel stressed or distressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, don’t hesitate to contact the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1-800-268-7708 (1-800-567-5803 for hearing-impaired persons). If EAP services are impacted or if the situation is a mental health emergency, contact Crisis Services Canada at 1-833-456-4566 or 911.
Canada.ca/health offers mental health information, including resources on mental health and wellness during COVID-19.
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