Supporting language of work rights: mitigation measures for public service employees

May 13, 2026 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time: 1:18

In designated bilingual regions, employees have the right to be supervised in the official language of their choice.

To support this change from the modernized Official Languages Act (Accessible only on the National Defence network) and related workplace policies, language requirements for positions supervising employees in bilingual regions have increased from BBB to CBC.

If a current supervisor was appointed prior to June 20, 2025, they may not meet the new language requirements due to the conditions in place at the time of their appointment. To respect employees' language-of-work rights, the Defence Team is launching a new mitigation measures tool, (Accessible only on the National Defence network) which supports supervisors when they cannot fully meet the requirements.

In bilingual regions, supervisors must ask their employees which official language they prefer for supervision. If the supervisor cannot effectively work in that language, they must put mitigation measures in place to remove barriers and support the employee's language rights. This tool enables public service employees and their military or public service managers to document an employee's preferred official language of supervision and the agreed upon mitigation measures.

Mitigation measures may include:

• Bringing in extra help: Another supervisor or manager who speaks the employee's preferred official language helps with conversations when needed. The employee - manager relationship does not change but both have extra support to make communication clearer.
• Adjusting workflows: Modifying workflows to deliver communication and supervision in the employee's preferred official language, thereby supporting productivity. For example, scheduling key meetings with a bilingual team member or structuring feedback sessions so the supervisor can be supported by a colleague who can communicate in the required language.

Mitigation measures should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Guidance on mitigation measures (Accessible only on the National Defence network) is available to help supervisors and employees identify appropriate options.

For more information or support in identifying appropriate mitigation measures contact [email protected].