Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members are already raising red flags about Dayforce, the expected pay system to replace Phoenix that’s being tested during a cross-country roadshow and virtual sessions for federal public service workers.
In December, PSAC launched a survey urging members to share their experiences after participating in these employer-led sessions. While over 2,500 members completed the survey, far fewer were able to actually attend a session. In fact, 60% of survey respondents said they weren’t even aware the sessions were happening.
PSAC members who tested Dayforce reported several major issues:
Superficial testing left key questions unanswered – The demonstrations were too basic and didn’t address the real issues members face when accessing their payroll information, making it difficult to assess the system’s capabilities.
Confusing navigation and unclear menus – The system did not feel intuitive, and key information was difficult to find.
Uncertainty about pay accuracy – Members who work as compensation advisors, processing pay for federal workers, expressed frustration that they couldn’t test pay calculations, and the test environment lacked real data to show whether Dayforce could handle complex payroll scenarios.
Trainers avoided tough questions –Sessions felt scripted, and trainers didn’t provide enough transparency about how the system would function in real-world conditions.
Risk of repeating Phoenix’s failures – Based on what was shown, many members fear Dayforce could be another flawed system that will repeat the same problems rather than solve them.
Members also expressed frustration that the sessions were too short to explore Dayforce meaningfully. As a result, 40% of those who attended a session said they’re either not very confident or not confident at all that Dayforce will be a good replacement for Phoenix.
PSAC wants rigorous testing before moving forward.
“We’re keeping a close eye on the government’s testing of Dayforce. But let’s be clear: any new system must work from day one,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. “Being paid on time and properly is the most basic employment right. Federal workers deserve a pay system that works, not more broken promises.”
PSAC says the government must learn from its failures with Phoenix — or risk making the same mistakes again. The union promises it will continue to hold the government accountable and push for a pay system that truly works for federal workers.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada is one of Canada's largest unions, representing nearly 250,000 workers in every province and territory in Canada, including more than 180,000 federal public service workers.