'It absolutely catches us by surprise,' says exec at PIPSC
The federal government will require workers in the public sector to be in the office three times per week starting this fall.
A source within the federal government – who is not authorized to speak publicly about the matter – confirmed the development to Radio-Canada.
While the move is slated for September, that still could change, said the source.
In 2023, more than 155,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members working for Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) held a strike after the Treasury Board required workers in core public administration to be on site at least two to three days each week, or 40% to 60% of their regular schedule.
Doug Ford welcomes three-days-a-week RTO
Ontario Premier Doug Ford welcomed the news.
"Three days is a good start," Ford said, according to the CBC report. "When you're coming here, go out for lunch, maybe go into a store, pick something up, go to the mall — that's what we need, that's what stirs the economy."
Previously, Ford called on the federal government to bring federal workers back to the office in Ottawa at least three days a week to help boost economic activity in the city.
However, Jean-Yves Duclos, minister of public services and procurement, noted that individual ministries would have the final word on how employees return to the office.
"All departments need to contribute to the conversations that are taking place with Treasury Board," Duclos said in the CBC report.
The recent push from governments for workers be in the office more often comes at a time when companies are hiring more remote workers, and this trend will continue through 2024, according to a previous report.
Do unions want RTO?
Ottawa’s move to require workers to be in the office was unwelcome news to others.
"It absolutely catches us by surprise," said Stéphanie Montreuil, head of public affairs for the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), in the CBC report. "It came with no warning and no consultations from our part."
She said some members are still heading into the office only to participate in virtual meetings.
"We've advocated for presence with purpose," she said.
Meanwhile, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) says “public service workers are once again caught in the middle as speculation swirls about potential changes”.
“Members overwhelmingly report that the current mandate of 40% of time in-office isn’t being consistently or equitably enforced by most departments and managers. And when workers come into the office, many already have trouble finding adequate space to work, and often end up spending their office days on virtual calls with colleagues nationwide without ever meeting in person,” said the union.
A majority of employees in the United States want employers to cover their commute expenses if they are expected to return to the office, according to a recent survey.
