4.1 Requirement
4.1.1 The requirement of management for identification of the employee shall be determined by the degree to which the identification will aid in the effective performance of duties.
4.1.2 Employees may be identified by the use of readily available identity cards or by a card at their work station in an office or other setting where special clothing would not be required.
4.1.3 As per the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations, where the use of employees' full names or surname(s) represents a security problem and eventual workplace violence hazard that may follow them outside the workplace, departments shall jointly determine through the consultations defined at Part 2 above, the use of alternate forms of identification such as, not limited to: a badge number, nickname or first name only.
4.1.4 The amount of identification depends upon the following:
- the continual contact of the employee with either the local, national or international population;
- the requirement for promotion of Canada‑wide departmental services; and
- promotion of the federal identity and the image of Canada.
4.1.5 Items such as shirts, which are normally considered as personal clothing, may be provided as clothing when essential for a distinctive and consistent image as part of the identifying clothing.
4.1.6 Outer identifying clothing is provided only when the employee is required to wear it while on duty outdoors for a significant portion of the working period.
4.1.7 Clothing provided for identification may also serve to protect employees. Duplication of issue for identification and protection should be avoided.
4.1.8 In some situations only one "identifier" will be required; in others, a combination of two or more may be necessary.
4.1.9 Identification clothing consistent with job requirements should be provided to probationers and casual or part‑time employees. Items for identification may differ from those provided to full‑time employees with the same job requirements (e.g. armband instead of headgear and tunic). The scale of issuance may also vary.
4.2 Local image
4.2.1 Clothing is provided when required for continual identification of employees, while on duty at the local level, when in continual direct contact with the local public whom they are serving.
4.2.2 Clothing for local image includes the following identifiers to wear with personal clothing:
- identification card, badge (i.e. for attachment to personal clothing),
- armband,
- headgear,
- smock or coveralls with identification markings, and/or
- identification vest.
4.3 National or international image
4.3.1 Clothing is provided when required for identification of an employee while on duty as an official representative of the federal government and when formal identification of vested authority is required to aid the employee in the effective performance of duties. The appearance of the employee must be readily distinguishable from other employees working in the area and must also enhance federal visibility and the image of Canada.
4.3.2 Clothing for national or international image consists of uniform clothing of a distinctive design and includes:
- headgear,
- tunic,
- pants and skirt,
- outer identifying clothing including one of: parka, pea jacket, ski jacket, cape, overcoat, rainwear, and/or
- badges or rank insignia that could vary with department and unit.