Phénix pay system: the federal government will not achieve all its objectives by March 31

Public Services and Procurement CanadaSPAC wanted to eliminate, by the end of the fiscal year, the net backlog of 49,000 files awaiting processing in the Phoenix pay system. This includes processing 19,000 transactions deemed to be the most problematic and impactful for public servants.

However, it achieved only 27% of the overall objective.

Still too much manual intervention

The number of incoming cases at the payroll center continues to be highunderlines Alex Benay, during the presentation of the third quarterly progress report on Wednesday.

According to the latest data from the ministry, between November 21 and December 31, 2024, the Center had a backlog of 383,000 files.

Cases that require manual interventions. Too much manual intervention according to the senior official.

We are really having trouble staying the course with the number of manual interventions requested by ministries.

Artificial intelligence to the rescue

Public Services and Procurement CanadaSPAC says it has already implemented several measures to limit the number of manual interventions at the center.
It counts on the simplification and standardization work currently underway to improve the system. But he also hopes a lot from artificial intelligence (AI), among other things to catch up on delays and arrears linked to the Phénix pay system.

We need to pick up the pace […] With machines, we can act as soon as the problem arises, without waiting a yearsouligne Alex Benay.

According to the latest figures from SPACmore than 200,000 pay correction requests have been awaiting processing for more than twelve months.

A virtual assistance tool was launched this fall. An external group of experts was also created on December 19. Finally, we are going to hire a company, a third party, to come and do a complete review of our workrecalls the deputy minister.

The fate of Dayforce set for March 31

In parallel, Public Services and Procurement CanadaSPAC continues its work of cleaning the data of all employees to be able to transfer all files to Dayforce (new window). This pay system, which would replace Phénix, is still in the testing phase. We have set March 31 to give our approval or notannounces Alex Benay.

If the test is not conclusive, the deputy minister assures that the progress will not be lost. I don’t like losing, so we made sure we had a strategy for both [cas]he said.

The Deputy Minister recalled that the current platform, one day, will be obsolete. So one way or another you have to look at another platformbefore concluding that the adaptations and management of the two systems are likely to last for the next few years.