Workforce Relations

2025/2026 Voluntary Reduced Workweek (VRW) Program

The Manitoba Government is once again offering a Voluntary Reduced Workweek (VRW) Program to employees:

• Employees may request leaves of absence without pay for up to 20 days during the current fiscal year. VRW Days must be taken by March 6, 2026.
  
  
• Employees must complete the VRW Request Form and submit the form to their Department Manager/ Director by March 21, 2025.

• Departments will be encouraged to approve such leave requests subject to operational requirements and the requests of other employees for time off (including VRW and other leaves such as vacation.)

• Applications received after March 21, 2025 will be considered by department management subject to scheduling and operational requirements at the time of the request.

• Departments will provide employees with approval of VRW days requested by April 17, 2025. Once the requested VRW days have been approved, it is incumbent upon the employee to use the approved days.

• The reduction in pay will occur over 24 pay periods from May 2, 2025 to March 20, 2026. Employees will continue to receive their adjusted bi-weekly pay during the pay period(s) when VRW days are being used.

• The approved VRW day(s) will be treated as a regular working day for the purposes of pension, group life insurance, and accumulated service calculations.

 

For details on the VRW program, go to "2025/2026 VRW Employee Guidelines"

For approximate impact on net pay, go to "2025/2026 Approximate Net Pay Reduction Chart"

For a fillable VRW request form, go to "2025/2026 VRW Request Form" (please DOWNLOAD the form first and SAVE a copy to fill out electronically)

For Frequently Asked Questions, go to "2025/2026 VRW FAQ"