2019 Annual Report Released

CSSEA's 2019 Annual Report, containing excerpted highlights from our approved audited financial statements, is now available. 

If you have any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Director of Communications.…

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Announcing the 2019 Community Social Services Awards of Excellence Recipients

CSSEA is pleased to announce this year’s Community Social Services Awards of Excellence recipients, sponsored by TELUS. Now in their fifth year, the awards continue to recognize individuals with varying lengths of service who have made outstanding contributions to the social services sector. On behalf of a member panel who reviewed and shortlisted all nominations, as well as an external Judging Panel who evaluated and ultimately narrowed down shortlisted nominations to a single winner in each category, we congratulate the following recipients:

Rising Star: Alicia Erenli

Program Coordinator, Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Community Services, General Services
Having started as a practicum student in 2017, Alicia stood out to senior management immediately with her passion for supporting youth and ease with which she was able to connect with them in a trusting manner. Alicia was quickly hired as a Program Coordinator of the agency’s newly developed Youth Wellness Centre (YWC), where she tackled all manners of unforeseen circumstances and challenges that came with navigating a new program. Alicia exemplified leadership in shaping the YWC in many ways, by redesigning the space to maximize a client’s experience, learning new databases, volunteering to facilitate an after-hours program to ensure service was not interrupted, and more. Alicia’s energy and positivity have made her a sought-after confidante for youths and an indispensable professional to her colleagues.

Hero: Lora Church

Program Director, Community Living Victoria, Community Living Services
Lora started her career at Community Living Victoria 13 years ago as a casual Community Support Worker. Her enthusiasm for the work soon led her to become a Group Home Supervisor for two teenage girls, where she dedicated her energy to helping them thrive in their communities. Lora’s passion and continual quest for knowledge eventually led her to complete several certification programs, including ones in Residential Management, Home Share Standards, Leadership and Home Study. She eventually took on a full time role as a Home Share Coordinator in 2011, demonstrating compassion and earning the respect of both individuals served and their families. Lora’s diligence and hard work were rewarded this past spring, when she was promoted to join the senior management team as a Program Director, which now sees her managing seven homes and a community inclusion program.…

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Imagining the Next 25: Early Bird Rate Ending Soon

There are now less than two weeks remaining to take advantage of discounted rates for this year’s CSSEA AGM and Conference, Imagining the Next 25. Early bird rates for all categories of registration — both day rates and the full conference package — are set to increase after 5pm on August 30. In addition, several conference workshops are already close to sell-out status. Given the limited space at the conference venue, we will not have flexibility to accommodate additional registrants in a session after it fills up.

This year’s conference, taking place October 8-10 at the Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Hotel, will not just celebrate CSSEA’s 25th year anniversary, but also look towards the future with a series of visionary sessions that will address millennial engagement, emotional intelligence, collaborating with unions in modern workplaces, and more. You and view the full program schedule, as well as register for the event, through our conference website. If you have any questions, please contact Doris Sun, Director of Communications, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.…

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Upcoming Motor Vehicle Act Regulations Changes: Class 4 Licenses

Upcoming changes to provincial motor vehicle regulations that will allow ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to operate have raised some questions as to whether those changes will impact CSSEA employers.

Many CSSEA employers have employees who drive individuals receiving services as part of their job duties, either in their own vehicles, or in employer-owned vehicles.

CSSEA had previously obtained a legal opinion from the law firm Fasken Martineau stating that these employees were generally not required to obtain a Class 4 license, as long as they were not driving modified vehicles or passenger vans of more than 10 people, and as long as they were not receiving fees or compensation specifically for the transportation.…

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Application of Temporary Market Adjustments and Classification Changes

Temporary Market Adjustments (TMAs)

Under the recent Indigenous Services collective agreement settlement, there are two “Temporary Market Adjustments” (TMAs) for social workers who are classified as Social Program Officer (SPO) 24 and who work in Child Protection Services positions. In the public service negotiations in 2018, the Government and Union identified these positions as being subject to significant recruitment and retention challenges. As a result, child protection social workers will receive two TMAs in an effort to address this challenge.

The Delegated Aboriginal Agencies (DAAs) wage schedules are tied to the public service wage schedules, and as a result, social workers employed by both the Ministry and the DAAs are to receive the same increases, as follows:

• Effective April 1, 2019 – C6 Delegated Child Protection social workers classified at Grid 24 working in CP positions will receive a TMA of one grid to grid 25; and
• Effective April 1, 2021 – C6 Delegated Child Protection social workers classified at Grid 25 working in CP positions will receive an additional one grid TMA to Grid 26.…

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Register Now for 2019 AGM and Conference

Registration is now open for the 2019 AGM and Conference, Imagining the Next 25. While this year’s conference is a celebration of CSSEA’s 25 year history, it will also examine the various ways employers can position themselves to succeed in the next quarter century. The three-day event will be taking place October 8-10 in Vancouver at the Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown Hotel.
With guidance from the AGM Planning Committee, we put together a future-focused program that will include a keynote address from nationally recognized Millennial Engagement Expert and lawyer, Michelle Dagnino. Michelle will share her considerable insights on how to engage and motivate Millennials as they occupy the majority of the workforce in the next decade. Other sessions will include: managing current and future union-management relationships; building a workplace wellness program in changing times; leading with emotional intelligence; and more.

Take Advantage of Early Bird Rates

This year, we are introducing an early bird incentive for those who register before August 30. Register now to take advantage of these rates*:

*all rates are subject to GST

Full program and registration details can be found on our conference website. Please note that CSSEA has negotiated a limited number of rooms at the Marriott hotel at a special conference group rate of $239 per night for a standard room. Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis and can be reserved online using our dedicated reservation page. If you have any questions, please contact Doris Sun, Director of Communications, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 604.601.3110 and toll-free at 1.800.377.3340 ext.110.…

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Proposed Changes to the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Code Now Law

Further to an earlier CSSEA Info that announced proposed legislative changes that would amend both the Employment Standards Act (“Act”) and Labour Relations Code (“Code”), members are advised that the bills progressed through subsequent readings in May and were passed into law late on May 30, 2019.

The new Act and Code provisions mirror the bills as they were described in the original CSSEA Info. Please ensure that your practices reflect these changes. In particular, the changes to the Act constitute workplace minimum standards and must be adopted by all employers. The only exceptions are in the following areas under our collective agreements that address:

1. hours of work or overtime;
2. statutory holidays;
3. annual vacation or vacation pay, and;
4. seniority retention, recall, termination of employment or layoff…

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Proposed Changes to the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Code

The provincial government recently tabled bills in the Legislature that propose changes to both the Employment Standards Act and the Labour Relations Code. The following outlines key changes that may impact Community Social Services Employers.

Employment Standards Act (“Act”) – Bill 8

This is the first of what is expected to be a series of changes to the Act. The most significant changes proposed are that:

1. Key components of a collective agreement must “meet or exceed” the corresponding provisions of the Act;
2. Employees would be entitled to additional forms of unpaid leaves in exceptional circumstances; and
3. The period in which employees can recover wages payable would be extended.…

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Reminder: Submit Nominations for 2019 Awards of Excellence

There are now less than three weeks remaining to submit your nominations for the 2019 BC Community Social Services Awards of Excellence. The awards, presented with generous support from TELUS, is a wonderful way to acknowledge outstanding individuals working in BC’s publicly funded community social services sector. Nominations are being accepted in four categories, each aiming to honour the work of individuals at different stages of their careers.

How to Nominate

Anyone can submit a nomination online. In addition, those who have submitted nominations in previous years for individuals who were not selected to receive an award are welcome to re-submit their nominations this year. The process is straightforward and consists of four questions requiring a maximum 500-word response for each.

Full details on the four awards categories, as well as the online nomination form, can be found on our Awards Website. Nominations will be accepted until 5pm on April 18.…

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2018 Employee Turnover Report Now Available

As part of CSSEA’s ongoing commitment to provide members with value-added services, we are pleased to share the 2018 Employee Turnover Report. The report was made possible through data collected from the 2018 Compensation and Employee Turnover Survey. As always, we thank you for your participation.

If you have not yet completed the 2019 Compensation and Employee Turnover Survey, please do so by May 31, 2019. If you are new to survey completion and require assistance, or if you have questions related to data collection, Low Wage Redress distribution, and the like, please register for one of our complimentary orientation sessions taking place around the province.

Any questions about this report, survey completion, or access to WFIS can be directed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .…

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