Employee Liability Policy

Policy Statement

The employer will defend, negotiate or settle the following actions arising out of acts performed by employees in the course of their duties, provided it is determined that the employees were acting in good faith and within the scope of their duties:

  • civil claims, suits or prosecutions
  • criminal claims, suits or prosecutions
  • disciplinary proceedings of a professional organization recognized in provincial legislation. Representation for professional disciplinary proceedings will only be extended for issues related to professional conduct when performing duties required by the employer. The employer will not provide representation for disciplinary proceedings of a professional organization related to professional conduct in external employment / consulting, actions in the workplace that are outside the scope of duties required by the employer, or alleged violations of basic administrative or membership requirements of a professional association.

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Application

This Policy applies to all employees and former employees of Government departments.
Bargaining unit employees should also consult their respective collective agreements and the provisions of the collective agreement shall prevail.

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Definitions

Employees: Individuals currently or previously employed in government departments.

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Responsibilities

Departments
It is the responsibility of departments to:

  • notify the Department of Justice and Public Safety where it is believed that there may be a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action or where notice of a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action has been received as a result of an act performed or any alleged failure to act by an employee or former employee; and
  • determine whether or not employees were acting in good faith, within the scope of their assigned duties and within the scope of established departmental, divisional or program practices.

Employees
It is the responsibility of employees to:

  • immediately notify the Deputy Minister where employees believe there may be a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action or where notice of a claim, suit, prosecution professional disciplinary action has been received;
  • co-operate with the employer in all matters relating to the employer’s defence of a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action; and
  • not assume any obligation or liability, or take any steps to jeopardize the defence of a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action, without the prior written approval of the Minister of Justice and Public Safety or delegate.

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Legal Representation

The Department of Justice and Public Safety may appoint a lawyer to represent employees where such representation is required as a result of a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action. Before appointing a lawyer, the employee(s) involved will be consulted by either their home department or the Department of Justice and Public Safety, but the Department of Justice and Public Safety will make the final decision on the selection of a lawyer.
Where outside legal counsel is appointed by the Department of Justice and Public Safety, payment will be made subject to the following fee schedule to a maximum of 10 hours per day:

Years at Bar Hourly Rate
Appearance Time Research / Preparation Time
1 – 5 $ 85 $ 60
6 – 9 $100 $ 75
10 – 14 $125 $100
15 or more $150 $120

Hourly rates in excess of $150.00 require the approval of Treasury Board and will only apply in exceptional circumstances as determined by the Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice and Public Safety.
Travel expenses incurred by outside legal counsel will be as per the travel policies, Human Resources Policy Manual.
Employees may elect, in lieu of a Department of Justice and Public Safety appointed lawyer, to retain their own legal counsel. Where this occurs, employees will be solely responsible for the conduct of their defence as well as costs, including damages.
The employer may opt not to provide legal representation where employees have been dismissed with cause, and subsequently become the focus of a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action related to the reason(s) for dismissal.

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Associated Costs

Where a lawyer is appointed by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety to represent employees in a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action:

  • all costs of legal representation, including damages or settlements will be paid by the employer;
  • the employer will not seek to recover any portion of the costs from employees.
  • any costs recovered in the defence of the employee will be returned to the employer.

The employer will not pay the legal fees or damages on behalf of employees where the employer is of the view, or where the courts or professional associations rule, that employees were not acting in good faith or within the scope of their required duties.

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Continuation of Salary and Benefits

Employees’ salaries and benefits will continue where time away from work is required during a claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action or to give evidence in a work-related matter.

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Discipline

The employer may, where appropriate, discipline an employee with respect to the incident that is the subject of the claim, suit, prosecution or professional disciplinary action.

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Last Policy Update: July 25, 2014