Review of staffing decisions

At the end of a hiring process, applicants may request a review of the staffing decision. As a hiring manger, it's important to understand this stage and your role in supporting a fair and transparent process.

The review of staffing decisions process gives employee applicants an opportunity to better understand how the decision was made and to raise any concerns. Most concerns are resolved early through feedback and discussion with the applicant.

There are three steps in the staffing review process.

Step 1: Request for feedback

To start the review process, employee applicants must first request feedback from the individual responsible for the appointment within 5 calendar days after receiving notice of the staffing decision.

Day one is the day after applicants receive the notification about the decision.

If the fifth calendar day falls on a weekend or a statutory holiday, the next business day is considered the fifth day.

Step 2: Deputy minister inquiry

Employee applicants not satisfied with the feedback may request a deputy minister inquiry within 5 calendar days of receiving their feedback.

The review of the staffing decisions process ends here for appointments to an excluded position.

Step 3: Staffing review by the merit commissioner

Employee applicants not satisfied with the result of a deputy minister inquiry for bargaining unit positions may make a written request for a staffing review by the merit commissioner within 5 days of receiving the results of the inquiry.