Guideline for the implementation of compressed workweek schedule under Contribution agreements for international development assistance

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is providing organizations with additional flexibility to support an evolving work environment by supporting the use of a compressed workweek schedule.

Purpose

The purpose of this Guideline is to provide direction for the implementation of a compressed work schedule for Headquarters employees of organizations working in developed countries on projects funded by GAC. A compressed workweek is defined as an alternative work schedule that compresses the standard weekly hours into fewer than five standard working days over a given period.

Effective date and application

Effective as of June 1, 2021, this Guideline applies to existing and future contribution agreements that are associated with international development assistance projects. This Guideline applies to headquarters employees of organizations in developed countries only.

Conditions:

• The number of worked hours shall not exceed a weekly average of thirty-seven point five (37.5) hours worked during the compressed period.
• Overtime shall remain an ineligible expense. The organization shall be responsible to cover any cost related to overtime imposed by applicable labour regulations.
• The compressed workweek schedule is not admissible for local employees.
• In no case shall the application of a compressed workweek schedule result in an increase in project costs.
• The compressed workweek schedule shall not limit the continuity in services provided for GAC.

This Guideline will be evaluated after the first full year of implementation to assess its result as well as the possibility of extending this flexibility to local employees

Monitoring and compliance

The management of the working schedule shall remain the responsibility of the organization, and it shall be justified by timesheets.

GAC reserves the right to review organizations’ implementation of the compressed workweek schedule. In case of audit, the auditor will only review the maximum weekly average of thirty-seven point five (37.5) hours worked during the compressed period.