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WageWelcome to the Alberta Public Service! As a wage employee we hope that your experience with us, however long, will be a positive one. Feel free to browse through the information below as a starting point to get you familiar with some of the questions you may have. Your supervisor and HR Consultant in your department would also be able to answer any questions you may have. PayWage employees are not appointed to positions and are not considered an appointment under the Public Service Act. A wage employee is paid an hourly rate of pay based on the classification assigned. Pay grades for wage employees in the bargaining union (or Union) are determined under the collective agreement. To determine your pay range for your classification, click here. Pay ranges for non-union wage employees are based on the pay plans associated with the classification assigned. To determine your pay range for your classification, click here. When you meet with your pay and benefits specialist upon commencement, an employee ID number will be assigned to you and a direct deposit form will be filled out. All employees are paid bi-weekly on every second Friday. Every employee (including wage employees) is on a government-wide system called MyAGent which you will be given access to as soon as your pay and benefits specialist assigns you an employee ID number. This website is a portal for employment information including details on each paycheck. As a wage employee, you are paid an hourly rate. If the time period of your wage assignment is during the time when your assigned classification receives a general increase, your hourly rate will increase according to the adjusted pay plan. Benefits
For wage employees in Union classifications: For wage employees assigned to bargaining unit classifications, you typically do not participate in any benefit plan with the APS. Instead, you will receive 11.2% in addition to your regular wage earnings in lieu of benefits and vacation leave. However, once you have worked a total of 1,450 hours exclusive of overtime in a 12 month period, you will receive the hourly equivalent of 6 full days of paid sick leave per subsequent year of employment that can be used for medical appointments and illness leave. In lieu of receiving benefits, you will receive an additional 1% of your regular wage earnings. Wage employees in bargaining unit classifications who have worked 2,850 hours in the same department exclusive of overtime in a 24 hour month period will be eligible to participate in a group benefits plan negotiated between the Employer and AUPE. Benefits under this plan include: Benefits for Long Term Disability will not apply until after 1 year of continuous employment. Detailed information of the Group Benefits Plan can be found here. Effective July 1, 2008, all GOA union employees will participate in the MYCHOICE Benefits Plan. Further information will be posted at a later date for details of this new benefits plan. For wage employees in a non-union classification: For wage employees assigned to non-union classifications, you typically do not participate in any benefit plan with the APS. Instead, you will receive 11.2% in addition to your regular wage earnings in lieu of benefits and vacation leave. However, once you have worked a total of 1,450 hours exclusive of overtime in a 12 month period, you will receive an additional 12.2% in lieu of benefits in addition to your regular wage earnings. You will also receive the hourly equivalent of 6 full days of paid sick leave renewable annually that can be used for medical appointments and illness leave. If you have worked 2,850 hours in the same department exclusive of overtime in a 24 hour month period, you will be eligible to participate in the 1st Choice Benefits Plan. Benefits under this plan include: As a wage employee who has worked 2,850 hours, you are also entitled to general sick leave benefits only in those months you would have been employed had you not become ill or disabled. Long Term Disability Income Benefits apply only for the period you are disabled, up to 24 months if you have one year of continuous employment. Detailed information on this plan can be found here. Wage employees are typically not eligible to participate in the benefit plans. However, upon commencement of your wage appointment, your payroll contact will have you complete a "Special Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance-Appointment of Beneficiary" form. Unlike the Group Life Insurance Plans, the AD&D insurance is employer funded and is payable in the event of an accident at work causing the employee's death, dismemberment or loss of use of a limb(s) while the employee is performing the duties of the job. There is no life insurance with this benefit. Your payroll coordinator can be contacted for further information of the AD&D insurance. If you are a wage employee who has worked 2,850 hours participating in the Bargaining Unit Benefits Program, premium costs can be found here. If you are a wage employee who has worked 2,850 hours and in a non-bargaining classification, premiums for 1st Choice Benefits Plan participants can be found here. If you have worked 1,450 hours, the effective date for starting your additional entitlements is the first day after the 1,450 hours are attained. If you have worked 2,850 hours, the effective date for starting your additional entitlements is the first day of the following pay period from the date the 2,850 hours are attained. If you have worked 2,850 hours wage hours (within the same department), you will be eligible to participate in the benefit plans. There are certain benefits that are mandatory and others that are optional. Review your benefits information package and/or discuss with your HR Consultant or pay and benefits specialist about your options. Under the MYCHOICE Benefits Plan, the following benefits are mandatory: For 1st Choice Benefits Plan participants, the following benefits are mandatory: Once you have reached 2,850 of wage work hours at your department, you will be notified by your ministry. Your pay and benefits specialist will connect with you to enroll you within the benefits plan that is applicable to you. You will be required to complete the appropriate enrollment forms in order to commence you on the benefits plan. If you are in the Bargaining Unit Benefits Program, you will fill out this form. If you are in the 1st Choice Benefits Plan, you will fill out this form. Once you have reached 2,850 wage work hours at your department and are able to participate in the benefit plans, you will be able to coordinate your claims so that you can receive payment of up to 100% of eligible expenses from both plans if your spouse or benefit partner is enrolled in a health care plan providing similar coverage. For more information on the Bargaining Unit Benefits Program, click here. For more information on the 1st Choice Benefits Plan, click here. PensionWage employees do not participate in the pension plans, unless you have reached 2,850 of wage work hours in your department. Once you have reached 2,850 wage hours you will be eligible to participate on the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP). Click here for more information on the PSPP. Wage employees typically do not participate on the pension plan. However, if you reach 2,850 wage hours this will apply to you as you will be eligible to participate on the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP). To find the most recent contribution rates under PSPP, click here. This section would normally not apply for wage employees. However, if you reach 2,850 wage hours and are a participant on the PSPP, there is a possibility you may be able to transfer your service from a previous pension plan to the plan you belong to now. Information on the reciprocal agreements is available from the PSPP administrator at 1-877-453-1777. You can also click here for more information. VacationAs a wage employee, you do not have vacation leave entitlements but instead receive 11.2% in addition to your regular wage earnings in lieu of benefits and vacation leave. However, if you have reached 2,850 wage hours, you will have the same provisions as employees appointed to a temporary position with the exception of not being eligible for the first year vacation grant. AbsencesAs a wage employee, the following sick leave entitlements will be applicable to you only under the following conditions: If you have worked a total of 1,450 hours, exclusive of overtime in a 12 month period, you will receive the hourly equivalent of 6 full days of paid sick leave per subsequent year of employment that can be used for medical appointments and illness leave. If you have reached 2,850 wage hours, your sick leave entitlements will be similar to that of an employee appointed to a temporary position. Benefits for Long Term Disability for "2,850 hour" wage employees will not apply until after 1 year of continuous employment. As a wage employee, you are paid an hourly rate and so will not be paid on the days you miss work. If you are a "1,450 hour" or " 2,850 hour" wage employee, you will be able to access your sick leave days. For either expected or unexpected absences, you are expected to contact your supervisor either through phone or email as soon as possible. In addition, you are required to complete an electronic time sheet on MyAGent and submit it to your supervisor by the time approval deadline every two weeks. Check with your supervisor and/or department’s pay and benefits specialist for the process of completing a timesheet. As a wage employee, you are paid an hourly rate and so will not be paid on the days you do not work (including statutory holidays). Wage employees who have reached 2,850 wage hours will have the same entitlements as an employee appointed to a temporary position. Workplace Health
The Workplace Health Framework describes what Workplace Health is and how workplace health services are delivered in the GOA. The purpose of the Government of Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Program is to identify health and safety concerns, reduce the occurrence of occupational incidents, injuries and illnesses. The program goal is to promote a culture that values health and safety by proudly working together and integrating Alberta's public service values in all work activities and environments. The Workplace Health Framework reflects our commitment to stimulate and create a work environment that moves us all to work toward a safer and healthier workplace. For Unionized employees, Article 43 in the Collective Agreement describes the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) and the Government of Alberta's partnership in the Occupational Health and Safety Program. It describes every unionized employee's responsibility for health and safety in the workplace. More information on our Workplace Health programs and initiatives can be found here. The Government of Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Program fosters continuous improvement and excellence in work and well-being. The Government of Alberta and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees collaboratively build and support the implementation of the Government of Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Program. Everyone shares responsibility for following the Occupational Health and Safety Program and for integrating health and safety practices in their business operations and individual activities. The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is a confidential counseling and information service provided by Shepell.fgi and is sponsored by the Government of Alberta. This program is designed to help you and your dependents with any personal problems, large or small, that affect your family life, your work life or your general well-being. This service also provides support for health related concerns and help in creating a health risk reduction plan. Click here for further information on EFAP. Training
Continuous learning and development is critical to your ongoing growth and success. Once you've started with us, you will find that we have numerous supports that can help your career and learning plan. We have many different kinds of programs available to you in supporting your learning and development. Click here to see the programs that may interest you. The Government of Alberta (GoA) Learning Centre also offers various learning opportunities on a wide range of topic areas throughout the year. To access what courses are available, click here. On-the-job learning is also an important component of your learning and development. Once you've started working with us, consider secondment opportunities or other special projects and assignments you can take on to further develop your skills. Whether it's courses or on-the-job learning assignments, feel free to discuss with your supervisor and/or HR Consultant if you are interested in any learning opportunity, including the process for applying for financial assistance where applicable. With hundreds of careers in the APS to consider and with so many different opportunities, it is important to remember your career path in the APS is also a life long learning process. APS career paths are often as unique as individuals, and ultimately you will make career choices to meet your individual needs as there is nobody more interested or qualified to determine its direction and timing than you. The APS Career Management Portal is a key resource offering an abundance of information and material that can help manage your career within the APS. Click here to access the portal. The "Career and Learning" section on the Corporate Human Resources website also offers resources and information to help employees explore what opportunities are available to them. Click here for more information. In addition to online resources, your supervisor and/or HR Consultant in your department may also provide valuable insights and supports in helping you pursue the different career options with the APS. OpportunitiesOpportunities with the GOA are posted on the GOA jobs website. Click here to see what opportunities are there that may interest you! Other Information
MyAGent is your gateway to online employee self-service. It is a confidential portal that provides you with the ability to access and update your personal information over the internet from your workstation or from home. When you update personal, employment or benefits information, this information automatically updates the Alberta Government HR and Payroll System (IMAGIS HRMS). Here are just a few things you can do in MyAGent. When thinking of flexible work options, remember that as a wage employee, you are paid an hourly rate based on the number of hours worked. Discuss with your supervisor of any possible work arrangements that could be accommodated to achieve your work/life balance. THE ACHIEVEMENT BONUS IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED. The link here offers more information on the Achievement Bonus Program. |
