![[Canada] Federal employees received $150 million in standby pay in 2024](http://globalpayrollassociation.com/cdn/shop/articles/bigstock-Montreal-Ca---February---450145939_1200x.jpg?v=1732802367)
A new report has revealed that Canada’s government employees earned nearly $150 million in standby pay on top of their regular salaries in 2023. Some took home six-figure sums on top of their regular salaries, HRD reports.
The Toronto Sun quoted a federal government definition which said, “Standby workers are “employees who are called in by their employer to work during a specific period.
“The employer expects these employees to report to work if called upon to do so.”
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has paid more than $1.9 million in standby pay this year, with 145 employees earning at least $5,000 each, the Toronto Sun revealed.
The highest payout for a single CRA employee reportedly reached $20,000 in 2024. The figure is considerably less than the agency’s record $65,000 for a single worker in 2016.
Export Development Canada (EDC) hit the headlines when one employee received a massive $105,094 in standby pay in 2023, the highest reported amount across federal agencies.
EDC’s total standby payouts have decreased in recent years, however, going from their high of $434,000 in 2021 to $230,000 in 2024.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) tops the chart for overall standby pay expenditures. So far this year, it has paid $72.2 million, with annual payouts to individual employees regularly exceeding $100,000. In past years, single RCMP members have claimed as much as $193,000 in on-call pay. According to the Toronto Sun, RCMP’s 9,500 uniformed personnel routinely receive more than $5,000 each for standby duties, particularly in rural detachments which depend on such coverage.
The Toronto Sun reported that several other government departments and agencies have disclosed substantial standby pay costs:
- Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA): $3.9 million this year.
- Employment and Social Development Canada: $1.3 million.
- Department of National Defence: $4.5 million.
- Shared Services Canada: $11.4 million.
CBC/Radio-Canada reported $685,000 in standby pay for 2024, with the highest individual payment standing at $14,300. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights reported nearly $30,000 but declined to disclose individual payouts, citing privacy concerns.
Other agencies - including the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) - have reportedly refused to release standby pay details at all, citing security and privacy concerns.
Source: HRD
(Link and quotes via original reporting)
A new report has revealed that Canada’s government employees earned nearly $150 million in standby pay on top of their regular salaries in 2023. Some took home six-figure sums on top of their regular salaries, HRD reports.
The Toronto Sun quoted a federal government definition which said, “Standby workers are “employees who are called in by their employer to work during a specific period.
“The employer expects these employees to report to work if called upon to do so.”
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has paid more than $1.9 million in standby pay this year, with 145 employees earning at least $5,000 each, the Toronto Sun revealed.
The highest payout for a single CRA employee reportedly reached $20,000 in 2024. The figure is considerably less than the agency’s record $65,000 for a single worker in 2016.
Export Development Canada (EDC) hit the headlines when one employee received a massive $105,094 in standby pay in 2023, the highest reported amount across federal agencies.
EDC’s total standby payouts have decreased in recent years, however, going from their high of $434,000 in 2021 to $230,000 in 2024.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) tops the chart for overall standby pay expenditures. So far this year, it has paid $72.2 million, with annual payouts to individual employees regularly exceeding $100,000. In past years, single RCMP members have claimed as much as $193,000 in on-call pay. According to the Toronto Sun, RCMP’s 9,500 uniformed personnel routinely receive more than $5,000 each for standby duties, particularly in rural detachments which depend on such coverage.
The Toronto Sun reported that several other government departments and agencies have disclosed substantial standby pay costs:
- Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA): $3.9 million this year.
- Employment and Social Development Canada: $1.3 million.
- Department of National Defence: $4.5 million.
- Shared Services Canada: $11.4 million.
CBC/Radio-Canada reported $685,000 in standby pay for 2024, with the highest individual payment standing at $14,300. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights reported nearly $30,000 but declined to disclose individual payouts, citing privacy concerns.
Other agencies - including the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) - have reportedly refused to release standby pay details at all, citing security and privacy concerns.
Source: HRD
(Link and quotes via original reporting)