Hello, I'm Andrew Boden, APSA's Executive Director and an advocate on our Advocacy Committee. I'm answering your questions related to our AD 10 policies. Questions? Submit them anonymously here. These questions will be answered in a future monthly advocacy corner issue. For an immediate answer, please contact us.
If I currently hold a permanent APSA position and receive an offer for another temporary APSA role, will my permanent position be held for me while I take on the temporary role? Is this determined at the manager’s discretion?
Based on the University's current practices, our understanding is that holding your continuing position depends on the discretion of your department and supervisor. If this temporary assignment is a secondment, or you're otherwise being directed by your department to take it, there is policy language to ensure that your home position is held during this temporary job change. If your situation is more like scenario one (i.e. not a secondment), I would recommend reaching out to APSA for confidential assistance.
Is there any requirement for SFU to interview internal APSA candidates for an APSA or APEX posting before going to externals?
It's APSA's view, based on AD 10.03 Posting and Filing of Positions, that SFU managers should interview internal candidates before going to externals. I've added emphasis to highlight the key language below.
4.0 Procedures for Recruiting for and Filling of Positions
4.3 Normally, Administrative and Professional Staff Positions will be filled by Internal Candidates.
4.4 An External Candidate may be appointed to an Administrative and Professional Staff Position provided a thorough search for qualified Internal Candidates has been conducted, and the appointment of the External Candidate is clearly justified to and approved by the Executive Director, Human Resources, prior to the appointment.
Of course, if you're applying for an APEX position, APSA policy language likely doesn't apply. APSA and APEX are very different employee groups, with their own separate policy frameworks, compensation structure and benefits. APEX members also have no representation for workplace matters, unlike APSA members.
Is there any review or feedback that needs to take place during my probation? I haven't had any reviews or feedback from my supervisor.
Your supervisor should provide you with a review per Policy AD 10.22, Probationary Period. Continuing employees new to APSA serve a six-month probationary period unless waived at the discretion of the hiring supervisor. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that performance reviews occur at least once every two months (per Article 4.01 of AD 10.22). You are allowed to and should be responding to the feedback that your supervisor has written and provided to you in advance.
If you have not received a formal review in writing every two months during your probationary period, or if you have any concerns about any of the above, we encourage you to reach out to APSA for advice.