The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board has dismissed grievances filed by the Public Service Alliance of Canada challenging mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies that placed unvaccinated federal employees on unpaid administrative leave.
The December 2025 decision, announced Feb. 4 by PSAC in a press release, found that the vaccination policies fell within employer management authority and that unpaid administrative leave did not constitute disciplinary action, according to PSAC.
The union filed policy grievances in 2022 against several federal public service employers, including Treasury Board, Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Parks Canada.
Grounds for challenge
PSAC argued the policies represented an unreasonable exercise of management rights and amounted to disguised discipline. The union specifically challenged the placement of remote workers on unpaid leave, arguing those employees posed no reasonable threat to workplace health and safety.
The union filed separate grievances covering remote Treasury Board employees in December 2021 and remote CRA employees in March 2022.
Federal employers suspended the vaccination policies in June 2022 as public health restrictions began to lift across Canada.
Union position
PSAC said in March 2022 it supported vaccination as a critical public health measure but believed continuing to place unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave was “a harsh administrative measure that can be considered disciplinary and without just cause.”
The union requested compensation for members placed on unpaid leave under the policy.
PSAC said it consulted with the federal government on the vaccination policy to ensure it reflected public health guidelines while protecting member health, safety and workplace rights.
