Contents

• Introduction
• Application
• Definitions
• Guidelines
• Procedures

Introduction

1. An employee's type of employment may change when transferring from one position to another, when program changes require a change in the type of employment for the position occupied by an employee, or when the Deputy Head approves an employee's request for the change.

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Application

2. These guidelines and procedures apply to all employees, except those employed by the Northwest Territories (NWT) Power Corporation.

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Definitions

Types of employment with Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT):

3. Casual Employment is employment obtained through the casual hiring process for a fixed period between 5 days and 6 months of continuous employment to do work of a temporary nature where the employee is not appointed to a position in the Territorial public service. Casual employment can be full-time, part-time. Casual employees may be included in the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) bargaining unit.
4. Term Employment is employment for a fixed period not to exceed 24 months, at the end of which the employee ceases to be employed.  Term employment is obtained by appointment to a Territorial public service position for a specified period (i.e., one year) through a formal staffing competition process (referred to as term employee).
5. Indeterminate Employment is employment on a continuing basis, with no end date specified.
6. Job Share Employment is where two employees share the responsibilities, tasks and hours of work of one full time position. It involves a rotational schedule of work where each employee works for separate periods.
7. Part-time Employment is employment on a continuing basis for hours less than the standard workday, week or month.
8. Relief Employment is employment of an indeterminate nature in a position for which there are no established hours on a daily, weekly or monthly basis where the employee will be required to report to work on an as-and-when required basis.
9. Seasonal Employment is employment of a seasonal nature, which is not continuous throughout the year but recurs in successive years.

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Guidelines

10. The Deputy Head of a Department, Board or Agency may change an employee’s type of employment from term to indeterminate if the term employee was appointed to their position with the Territorial Public Service through the formal staffing competition process.
11. A casual employee may only obtain indeterminate status through:
    1. a staffing competition for a Territorial public service position; or
    2. a direct appointment to a Territorial public service position.
12. Where operational requirements permit, a Deputy Head may approve a full-time employee's written request to change his/her status to part-time or seasonal, by means of a written agreement.
13. A part-time or seasonal employee’s hours of work can be changed back at any time by the Deputy Head of the employing Department, Board or Agency. If the employee requests to change back, it is at the discretion of the Deputy Head.
14. Where the employing Department, Board or Agency must reduce the hours of work of an occupied position, the employee has the option to accept re-employment in his/her position with reduced hours or provisions of the Staff Retention Policy apply.

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Procedures

Term to Indeterminate

15. A request to change an employee's employment status from term to indeterminate status and the written rationale for the change is submitted by the supervisor to the Deputy Head of the employing Department, Board or Agency for approval.
16. The Deputy Head reviews the request. If the request is approved, the hiring manager notifies the Department of Finance.
17. The Department of Finance prepares a term to indeterminate letter for signature.
18. The signed letter is retained on the employee's personnel file.

Employee's Request for Employment Status Change

19. A full-time employee provides a detailed written request outlining the proposed type of employment change (i.e., part-time, seasonal, etc.), hours of work and explaining how programs and services will be maintained at equivalent or improved levels.
20. The supervisor reviews the proposed type of employment change and, if it is acceptable and complies with operational requirements, recommends approval to the Deputy Head.
21. The Deputy Head reviews the request. If the request is approved, the hiring manager notifies the Department of Finance.
22. The Department of Finance prepares an employment status change letter for signature.
23. The signed letter is retained on the employee's personnel file.

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