Question Period Note: SECURITY PROCEDURES (aka Red-flagging)

SECURITY PROCEDURES (aka Red-flagging)

• As per the Violence in the Work Place Policy, Veterans Affairs Canada has a zero tolerance for any aggressive and/or threatening behavior.

• Staff Security Notifications are used to alert employees with a need to know about individuals who may pose a potential threat to their safety.

• They are not used lightly or in an arbitrary manner and are applied only after many options have been exhausted including warnings and discussions with the individual.

• A Staff Security Notification does not change the approval process or impact any services or benefits to which the Veteran is entitled. When a Staff Security Notification is applied, the client is provided with a letter outlining the restrictions and the reason.

• A review is undertaken every six months to assess if the notifications are still justified under the objective of a safe and secure work environment for employees.SECURITY PROCEDURES (aka Red-flagging)

BACKGROUND

Under the Canada Labour Code (the Code) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, federal employers have an obligation to adopt a workplace harassment and violence prevention policy that, in part, provides a safe, healthy and violence-free work place. Bill C-65, an Act to amend the Code, establishes a framework on preventing incidents of harassment and violence from occurring, responding effectively to these incidents when they occur and supporting victims, survivors and employers in the process.

VAC’s “Guidelines for Providing Services to Veterans with CSDN Security Restrictions” explicitly specify that they are meant to “uphold the Department’s commitment to the personal safety of VAC staff members, Veterans and their families while continuing the delivery of required services and supports to the Veteran population.” The VAC “Policy on Violence in the Workplace” is also part of this comprehensive VAC approach to dealing with violence in the workplace.

The VAC “Security Incident Reporting Procedures Directive” is provided to all VAC employees and specifies reporting procedures for incidents that include “any threat or aggressive behaviours made in person, by mail, email, social media channels or telephone. VAC employees, therefore, have a duty to report such incidents and assist Veterans within parameters specified by security precautions.

The Security Policies reflect VAC’s commitment to ensuring access to appropriate benefits and services for all Veterans, including those subject to precautionary security measures. As outlined in the Canada Labour Code, VAC recognizes in its “Guidelines for Providing Services to Veterans with CSDN Security Restrictions” that “every VAC employee has the right to work in a safe environment free of threats, verbal, psychological, and physical abuse and assault.” As explained in the Guidelines, security restrictions “are an important means of protecting VAC staff by setting parameters for interactions with a Veteran after a security risk has been identified.”

The Guidelines specify that VAC has a “policy of zero tolerance for aggressive or violent behaviour” and establish procedures for the continued provision of services to Veterans with Security Restrictions. The Guidelines note that security measures are indicated by a “Staff Safety Notification” flag that pops up when the Veteran’s account is opened in the Client Service Delivery Network (CSDN).”

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