Risk assessment begins on name tag issue

Management and union representatives have met over the risk assessment procedure to be employed around the wearing of name tags by client-facing staff. The procedure has been designed to include direct input from staff who are affected.

When the name tag issue first emerged, many members emailed CEIU’s national office with their insights and suggestions. This information has been extremely useful and has already played an important role in the risk assessment process. Added to this will be comments from eight members who will participate in a risk assessment working group via teleconference from locations across the country.

Members have continued to file grievances to bolster the case against the use of tags bearing an employee’s last name. The concern over the treatment of staff by irate clients has grown as increasing numbers of EI claimants face delays in payment – or discover that they are not entitled to benefits at all.

“Our members want to do a good job for the unemployed,” said National President Jeannette Meunier-McKay, “but they don’t want to increase their vulnerability to irate claimants. Name tags showing last names make it that much easier to locate staff outside the workplace.”