Public sector employees to collect severance while remaining in their jobs

"It's nice work if you can get it. And if you get it, won't you tell me how."

These lyrics from George Gershwin's 1937 hit seem apropos today when it comes to public sector jobs and benefits.

In yet another story of public sector opulence, it appears that hundreds of thousands of core public sector employees could soon be eligible to collect severance payments even while they remain in their jobs.

While that may sound counter-intuitive, PostMedia News is reporting that government is in the process of renegotiating 27 collective agreements that had allowed for the accumulation of severance. The new deals — some of which have already been finalized — won't include severance, so current employees will be given an option of "cashing-out" their accumulated benefits from past years.

They can do so while they keep their jobs, they also can wait until they resign or retire to collect the cash, or they can receive some of it now and the remainder when leaving the public service.

Bureaucrats in the Privy council office, for example, have already collected $10.5 million in voluntary severance, averaging out to around $21,729 for every worker who requested the cash out.

The total cost to taxpayers, according to PostMedia, could total up to $1 billion.

These payouts come at the same time the Harper government is cutting 29,600 public sector jobs between now and 2015.

Gary Corbett, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada — which represents scientists, veterinarians, engineers and other professional staff, says the payouts are justified because they were collectively bargained.

"I can understand why the public sees it that way or that you can have a negative way to look at it," he told PostMedia News.

"But it's collectively bargained, we're making some progress."