Public service executives return to office 5 days a week this week: Here’s what you need to know

As of Monday, public service executives are required to be in the office five days a week, but there are questions as to whether there is enough office space.

Some federal public servants will be spending more time in the office starting this week, as the federal government changes the on-site requirements for employees.

As of today, executives in the public service are required to be in the office five days a week. All other employees in the core public service will be required to be on-site four days a week starting in July.

• Latest information on federal public service, including notices, job cuts, return to office rules and more

CTVNewsOttawa.ca. looks at what you need to know about the return-to-office mandate for federal public servants.

What is the new return-to-office mandate?

As of today, May 4, all executives in the federal public service will be required to work on-site five days per week.

The mandate applies to 9,340 executives working in the federal public service.

As of July 6, all other federal employees will be required to be on-site four days per week.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat issued the new directive for on-site requirements in February.

Why is the federal government changing the on-site requirements?

In a letter to federal public servants in February, the secretary of the Treasury Board and the Chief Human Resources Officer said, “The Government has put forward ambitious plans to deliver on priorities for Canadians and to strengthen our country.”

“Working together on-site is an essential foundation of the strong teams, collaboration and culture needed during this pivotal moment and beyond.”

Does the federal government have enough office space?

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) said it “does not anticipate any challenges” accommodating managers and executives in the office five days a week starting this week.

However, some departments “require more workstations and/or more space in certain locations” to accommodate employees returning to the office four days a week this summer.

“PSPC is working with partner departments and agencies to rapidly deliver efficient solutions by optimizing underutilized space, renewing existing leases, and potentially acquiring additional space where requirements cannot be met within the existing portfolio,” PSPC said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

“PSPC uses its operating budget to invest in maintenance, ensuring that buildings remain safe and suitable for employees as on-site work requirements increase.”

The government didn’t say which departments require more desks and office space to accommodate employees.

Are any departments delaying the return-to-office mandate?

Global Affairs Canada announced in late April it was delaying the return-to-office mandate for some employees due to a lack of office space.

All executives will be required to work full-time on-site five days a week, starting on May 4.

However, all managers and deputy directors who report to a director or above will be required to work on site four days a week, which will be phased in between July 6 and Sept. 16.

All other Global Affairs employees based in the national capital region, as well as some employees in GAC regional offices in Canada, will be required to be present on-site three days per week.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Global Affairs Canada said a “multi-year renovation project” at its headquarters and in other buildings in the national capital region “is affecting the availability of office spaces.”

“As renovation projects advance and additional renovated space becomes available, on-site presence will increase in line with TBS direction, ensuring employees have the space needed to carry out their work effectively,” Global Affairs Canada said.

Federal coworking sites

The federal government currently operates 13 coworking locations, open to employees outside of urban areas to work. According to the government, more than 15,000 public servants from over 50 federal departments and agents are registered for government coworking.

The locations include four in Ottawa (171 Bank Street, 335 River Road, 555 Legget Drive and 110 Place d’Orléans), two in Gatineau (480 de la Cité Boulevard and 140 Promenade du Portage) and one in Toronto (655 Bay Street).

The coworking space on la Cité Boulevard in Gatineau will close in June.

Grievance over return-to-office mandate

Two federal unions have filed unfair labour complaints over the return-to-office mandate.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada filed a grievance with the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board in February.

“Employers cannot change the conditions of work while their workers are in bargaining,” PSAC said in a statement.

“These conditions of work include the ability for workers to work remotely. Negotiations are currently underway for the majority of federal public service workers who received this news yesterday, many who are negotiating for language on remote work.”

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) also filed an unfair labour practice complaint, saying “The complaint challenges the government’s decision to change terms and conditions of employment in the middle of negotiations — a move that directly affects thousands of PIPSC members and undermines the bargaining process.”

Concerns heard by executives’ organization

The Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX) says it is supporting executives in the public service through the office mandate’s implementation and has heard some concerns.

“APEX has provided opportunities for executives to share and exchange their views on return-to-the-office with both APEX and fellow executives,” a statement to CTV News Ottawa said.

APEX says what it heard can be categorized under three main themes:

• the importance of timely and deliberate engagement with executives
• the challenges with workplace infrastructure (e.g. difficulty accessing desks, inadequate confidential spaces)
• the pressures of leading through continuous change

“APEX has conveyed these insights to the appropriate senior leaders in the public service,” the statement said.

“In addition, APEX is taking the perspectives of the executive community into consideration in the programming and support services that it offers.”

Office mandate timeline

Here is a look at the return-to-office timeline for federal public servants:

• March 16, 2020: The federal government suspended on-site work at most federal worksites due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government adopts a “remote-by-necessity” operating model, allowing employees to work from home on a full-time basis.
• Jan. 16, 2023: The federal government begins a phased introduction of a common hybrid work model across departments in the core public administration. The Treasury Board of Canada secretariat requires employees on-site at least 2 or 3 days per week.
• March 31, 2023: The hybrid model is fully implemented, requiring federal employees to be on site at least 2 or 3 days per week, or 40 to 60 per cent of their regular schedule.
• Sept. 9, 2024: The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat requires employees in the core public administration to work on-site at least 3 days per week. Executives are expected to be on-site a minimum of four days per week.
• Feb. 5, 2026: The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat unveils new return-to-office guidelines for public servants.
• May 4, 2026: All executives in the federal government will be required to work on-site 5 days per week.
• July 6, 2026: All non-executives in the federal public service will be required to be on-site four days per week.

Office policy at City of Ottawa, Ontario government departments

As of Jan. 1, all Cit of Ottawa employees are required to be in the office five days a week.

City Manager Wendy Stephanson ended the hybrid work arrangements at Ottawa City Hall, saying it will “help strengthen the organizational culture and build confidence and trust in the City’s ability to continue to provide responsive and reliable service to the public.”

As of Jan. 5, the Ontario government requires all employees to be in the office five days a week.

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App