Travel Directive – Child Care Expenses

Background

The grievor requested reimbursement for additional child care expenses while away on travel status as his spouse was unavailable to provide the required care at the time.

Executive Committee Decision

The Executive Committee considered and agreed that the grievor was treated within the intent of the Travel Directive. The parties agreed that 3.3.5 of the Travel Directive does not provide reimbursement of child care expenses where there is another caregiver, even where that caregiver is temporarily unavailable. The only exception to this exclusion arises where both caregivers are federal employees and both are on travel status at the same time.

The Executive Committee considered the recommendation that the issue of sole caregiver be referred to the Government Travel Committee to consider options for clarifying/rectifying the scope of "dependant care" provisions of the Travel Directive. The Committee agreed that this issue could form part of the next cyclical review with clear direction to the Travel Committee.