Reimbursement of Carpeting Costs

The grievor sought that the department abandon their claim for reimbursement of an amount paid to the grievor for the cost of installing and laying wall-to-wall carpet in the grievors residence following return from a posting abroad.

The Administrative Committee considered and agreed with the report of the Foreign Service Directives Committee which noted that the employee on relocation had reoccupied his residence in Ottawa and claimed incidental relocation expenses incurred to take up existing carpeting and relay new carpeting. While the claim was paid initially, the grievor was subsequently requested to refund the amount as the claim was for laying of newly purchased carpet that was not in his position, in long term storage, nor listed on his approved inventory at the time of relocation from his previous place of duty.

It was also noted that the French text of the Treasury Board Transmittal Letter in regard to this area of the policy was in error.

The Administrative Committee agreed with the report of the Foreign Service Directives Committee in that, the employee had been treated within the intent of the directives. However, as the French text would have permitted payment of the grievors claim, the Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs should be directed to exercise Deputy Head discretion under Foreign Service Directive 15.42 to authorize the payment of laying new carpeting as an incidental relocation expense.

To the extent that the above satisfied the corrective action sought, the grievance was upheld.