Will federal departments have enough space for public servants in office 4 days a week?

Federal government office buildings are seen in this undated photo. (CTV News Ottawa)

Several federal departments are continuing to analyze available office space for staff, eight weeks before public servants are required to be in the office for a minimum of four days a week.

All executives in the core public service are now required to work on-site five days per week. A Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat directive says, as of July 6, all other federal employees will need to be in the office a minimum of four days a week.

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

Two federal departments have already announced the four-day in-office requirements will be delayed for federal public servants – Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada. The Department of National Defence said workspace “may be limited” at certain buildings, and implementation of the four-day office mandate will be “managed by managers.”

CTVNewsOttawa.ca reached out to the largest federal departments in the core public service to see if they have enough office space to accommodate public servants four days a week.

Five federal departments said they are still analyzing office space to see if they will have enough spaces for public servants, including Employment and Social Development Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Department of Justice, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Statistics Canada.

Nine federal departments told CTV News Ottawa it will have enough office space to accommodate employees four days a week, while Indigenous Services Canada said it does “not anticipate” any issues with office space.

Here is a look at the responses by departments to an inquiry about available office space.

Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada is delaying the four-day in-office requirement for public servants due to a “multi-year renovation project” at the Lester B. Pearson Building on Sussex Drive in Ottawa and other buildings in the national capital region.

All executives are required to work full-time in office five days a week.

The new return-to-office mandate for other employees at Global Affairs Canada says all managers and deputy directors who report to a director or above will be required to work on site four days per week, phased in between July 6 and Sept. 15.

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.

“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 in a statement on May 1.

Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada

Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada informed federal public servants on May 7 that the department is delaying the in-office mandate due to a lack of office space.

The department says until there is “sufficient office space,” this will be on the on-site mandate:

• Executives: On site five days a week, effective May 4.
• Managers (level 6 in the Instrument of Delegation of Human Resources Management Authorities [PDF]): On site four days a week, effective July 6.
• All other employees (National Capital Region and regions): Temporarily on site three days a week, including at least Monday or Friday, effective July 6.

Department of National Defence

The Department of National Defence says workspace “may be limited” at certain buildings when public servants are required to be in the office four days a week starting this summer.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, DND said it was preparing for an increased onsite presence.

“Implementation will be managed by managers, taking into account workforce needs, available workspace, and the configuration of departmental facilities,” DND said.

“Workspace may be limited in certain areas, including in the National Capital Region. Physical space restrictions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and management will be authorized to recommend temporary exceptions in line with relevant policies.”

Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says it has enough office space for public servants.

“Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) facilities, including regional offices, research and development centres, and the National Headquarters Complex for the Agriculture Portfolio (NHCAP) in Ottawa, can accommodate the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s intention to increase on-site presence,” the department said in a statement on May 11.

“The Department continues to monitor capacity and will work with Public Services and Procurement Canada should any space challenges arise.”

Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency told CTV News Ottawa it has sufficient office space available for the agency’s workforce.

“We can confirm that we will have offices available for all employees and are on track to meet the Treasury Board of Canada’s intention to increase on-site presence.”

Correctional Services Canada

A spokesperson for Correctional Services Canada told CTV News Ottawa the department “will be able to accommodate” employees in the office four days a week.

“The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has taken steps to prepare for, and ensure that, space remains available for its employees for the week of July 6.”

Employment and Social Development Canada

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says it plans to implement the four-day in-office requirement for public servants will be “very depending on needs and locations.”

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, ESDC said implementation plans to “meet the intention” to have non-executives in the office are “currently being developed.”

“Once implementation details are finalized, employees eligible for hybrid work will be notified.”

Environment and Climate Change Canada

A spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change Canada told CTV News Ottawa on May 8 it was conducting a “detailed analysis of its office space” to support planning related to the in-office requirements.

Department of Justice

The Department of Justice says it is meeting “the obligation for executives to be onsite five days a week.

“We are currently analyzing the Department’s capacity to meet the four-day obligation for other employees in July, and that analysis should be available in the coming weeks,” the department said.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Fisheries and Oceans Canada told CTV News Ottawa on May 8 it is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada to “ensure that adequate office space is available to accommodate increased presence in offices.”

Health Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada

Health Canada says most of the Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada offices have “sufficient space” for employees to be in the office four days a week.

“However, some areas may have localized space challenges, and efforts are ongoing to resolve and mitigate accordingly,” the department said on May 8.

Indigenous Services Canada

A spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada told CTV News Ottawa on May 8 that the department is finalizing an analysis and assessment of office space capacity, but does not anticipate any issues with office space.

“Departments continue to work closely with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to identify and advance solutions, should they be required,” the department said.

“This includes finalizing the long-term space solution at 10 Wellington, in particular, including confirming any additional capacity required to support increased prescribed presence (4–5 days per week), and do not anticipate any issues, as plans are finalized.”

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) said the department “has the capacity to accommodate employees onsite” four days per week.

“ISED is on track to meet the intended increase,” a spokesperson said on May 8.

Natural Resources Canada

Natural Resources Canada says the department has “sufficient office space for the return-to-work directive.”

Public Services and Procurement Canada

“Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is working closely with departments and agencies to support implementation to the greatest extent possible by applying a range of space management strategies,” the department said in a statement on May 14.

“This includes working with departments and agencies to identify and deliver timely, efficient solutions, such as optimizing underutilized space. Should fully assigned seating be not available, PSPC would support the use of unassigned work environments to facilitate implementation and will allow more employees to work on site four days per week.”

Statistics Canada

A spokesperson for Statistics Canada said the department “remains committed to complying with in-office attendance requirements.”

“We continue to work closely with our partners at Public Services and Procurement Canada, as well as the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, to ensure that our employees will be able to work 80 per cent of their hours in person, starting in July,” Statistics Canada said on May 7.

Transport Canada

A spokesperson for Transport Canada told CTV News Ottawa the department is “well positioned” to adapt to the increased on-site presence.

“The department’s internal services continue to work closely together to support a coordinated transition across the department.”

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said it has “sufficient office space available” to accommodate public servants four days a week.

“We will continue to work closely with Public Services and Procurement Canada to ensure that we have adequate office space available to accommodate our present and future needs,” the TSB said.

Canada Revenue Agency

The Canada Revenue Agency does not fall under the Treasury Board directive for increased office presence for public servants in the core public service.

However, a spokesperson said the CRA is “actively planning for the implementation of the intended increase to on-site presence.”

“Site-specific situations continue to be assessed, and the CRA is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada to ensure the operational needs of employees are met,” the CRA told CTV News Ottawa on May 8.

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