Jordan Morrison was fresh out of college in 2019 and had multiple job offers lined up.
Morrison, who graduated at the top of his class, said he proudly chose to work in IT for the federal government in Ottawa.
“I thought I had a really bright future ahead of me,” said Morrison, now 28.
Little did he know that decision would continue to haunt him well into 2026 thanks to Phoenix, the federal government’s payroll system that has plagued tens of thousands of public servants, and still affects their lives 10 years after its launch.
A backlog of 233,000 Phoenix cases await processing at the payroll centre, according to the government’s latest numbers. The system has so far cost taxpayers nearly $5 billion.
In Morrison’s case, he went underpaid for years, only to receive a notice claiming he’d been overpaid.
“It’s so wrong what they’re doing to people,” said Morrison. “It’s ruined my 20s. It’s ruined my life.”
Morrison followed his doctor’s advice and quit the public service in 2023, after he experienced severe mental health issues stemming from his pay problems. He’s reflected in recent federal statistics showing workers in the 20-29 age group have had the highest rate of departure from the public service over the previous two fiscal years.
Today, the government is still clawing back money from Morrison through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), including from his tax returns and government benefits.
“They’re telling me that … they could garnish my wages, they could take my account, seize my assets — like every day, I’m living under fear of that,” he said.
From underpaid to ‘overpaid’
Early into his stint with the government, Morrison said he obtained a permanent position.
According to the notes from his grievance file, that should have bumped his annual salary from around $58,509 to $74,019, but Phoenix pay errors never allowed him to see that raise. Instead, Morrison remembers receiving several paycheques for $0, and struggling to pay bills.
Morrison said he was underpaid at the entry-level salary for years, and despite getting a few months of “acting pay” — a temporary solution offered by his managers — he estimates the government still owes him roughly $60,000 for the difference in salaries, including annual increases.
It’s difficult to narrow down the exact amount because the government still can’t provide an accurate breakdown of his payroll history, Morrison said.
Previously, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) said it doesn’t track underpayments in its system because there are too many variables.
After trying to correct the underpayment for years through management and his union, Morrison said he eventually decided to cut his losses.
“For my mental health, it wasn’t worth the fight. And it’s honestly like a second full-time job,” he said of his fight for correct payment. “It’s brutal and it’s destroyed me, but I just want to move on.”
Things got worse just before he left, when his employer notified him that he’d allegedly been overpaid by $18,973.40
You lose faith in the system.– Gilles LeVasseur, University of Ottawa
He tried to fight it, but ultimately decided to pay the balance off through his pension transfer.
“I thought … I can fight for that amount after, but I want to make sure it’s paid … [to not] worry about my credit score,” he explained. But the government failed to process that request, too.
“It’s just the ongoing circles of them refusing to do anything, then pinning it back on me when, like, I have no control over any of this,” Morrison said.
Morrison’s most recent statement from January claims he still owes $6,482.93. He says he still checks in with CRA every few months.
Morrison has had to borrow money from friends and family. Since leaving the government, he’s struggled to find contracts in the private tech sector. His current contract is set to end this March.
“Where could I be right now if none of this happened?” he asked, comparing his financial status to that of his peers. “Now I’m just so far behind.”
CBC asked PSPC about Morrison’s case, and for an explanation about how Phoenix calculates overpayments to an employee who was actually underpaid. CBC also asked whether the government will audit its files to reconcile these issues.
PSPC declined to comment on individual cases, citing privacy.
“We recognize that the recovery of overpayments can be stressful for those impacted,” a spokesperson wrote, adding that there are flexible repayment options for those experiencing financial hardship.
‘A tragedy’ for young workers
“How do you expect people to plan ahead when one day it’s A, the next day it’s C for your payment?” asked Gilles LeVasseur, an economist and business law professor at the University of Ottawa.
He said employees, not the government, have been “paying the price” for the failures of Phoenix.
“You lose faith in the system. And sadly, a lot of these people … if they have an opportunity to go outside [government for employment], they will,” he said.
“And that has been the tragedy of trying to recruit the younger generation in the federal public service.”
LeVasseur said as older workers retire, it’s crucial for the public service to understand the younger workforce and what they value.
“We got to show what is the future for these people — what are their options and where can they dream of having a career in the system. And when you have all these challenges like Phoenix, it causes people to doubt,” LeVasseur said.
“We have a duty to take care of them.”
