BC report recommends compensation transparency
Kwantlen Polytechnic University failed to meet government disclosure requirements when it topped up the salaries of senior executives with “pre-employment contracts,” reports BC’s Assistant Deputy Finance Minister Rob Mingay. The report concludes that KPU violated government requirements in 2 cases when it offered $50,000 pre-employment contracts to senior executives; the payments were found to be “inconsistent with the spirit and intent of Public Sector Employment Council's guidelines." The report will not result in any sanctions or penalties against KPU, and recommends mandatory one-day training sessions on disclosure and reporting for all provincial PSE executives handling employment issues, as well as ensuring provincial PSE board members are aware of transparency and reporting guidelines. "The public wants to know that there is total transparency in reporting executive compensation in the entire public sector," said the report. "Transparency in reporting is one of the foundations of public trust." KPU pledged to review its processes and procedures in order to improve these in the future. Globe and Mail | The Province | Times-Colonist | KPU Statement
Postscript: June 30, 2014
Kwantlen Polytechnic University President Alan Davis has launched a probe into the institution’s compensation practices. KPU was found to have failed to meet government disclosure requirements when it topped up the salaries of senior executives with “pre-employment contracts.” In a statement Davis said “I am very troubled by aspects of administrative compensation at KPU that have recently come to light. It is clear that, prior to my arrival at KPU, there was an established pattern of issuing pre-employment consulting contracts to people being hired to senior positions. The recipients, including myself, were unaware that these contracts might be non-compliant in some way with BC public sector regulations.” Davis says that he intends his review of the matter to restore the confidence of KPU’s board of governors and the public. KPU News Release | The Province
