OTTAWA — The 336,000 federal employees must return to office work at least two days a week, the federal government announced Thursday, provoking “anger” from the country’s largest public sector union.

More specifically, Ottawa says it has opted for a “hybrid model” that requires its employees to be with their co-workers “at least two or three days a week, or 40% to 60% of their normal schedule.”

This model will apply across public administration, but Ottawa “strongly” recommends that separate agencies adopt a similar strategy.

“Working in person encourages collaboration, team spirit, innovation and a culture of belonging. It helps teams build trust and learn from each other,” the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat says in a briefing document.

In a press scramble, Treasury Secretary Mona Fortier was unable to produce a study to back her claims, despite being asked the question three times instead of once. Rather, Ms Fortier pointed out that this was the result of “various discussions across departments”.

Shouldn’t the discussion be conducted within the framework of collective bargaining with public servants? “It’s a management decision,” the minister replied, adding, “It’s not something to be discussed at the negotiating table.”

The Government believes this is the best way to serve Canadians and promote fairness among officers in different departments.

So far departments have made their own decisions about teleworking and the applicable ‘hybrid’ formula – many opting for teleworking.

The new policy goes into effect Jan. 16, but the changes can be made “incrementally” as long as they’re finalized by March 31, Ottawa specifies.

The government has provided a list of situations where civil servants can be exempted from in-person work, including if they are immunocompromised, if they had a teleworking arrangement before the pandemic began, or if there is evidence of a “relevant business case” that there is one “measurable increase” in their effectiveness when they are out of the office.

Ottawa clarifies that “exceptional, case-by-case exceptions” could be granted that would be “of limited or longer duration,” such as in cases of illness, for a short-term operational need, or extenuating circumstances.

pressure tactics

That announcement goes down badly with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which has made teleworking a key demand in ongoing negotiations to renew collective bargaining agreements.

“We’re angry,” Yvon Barrière, PSAC regional executive vice president for Quebec, said on the phone. He considers it “completely disrespectful” that the CFO suddenly and arbitrarily imposed re-entry “shortly before the holidays without consulting the unions”.

This round of negotiations, which began a few months ago, involves no fewer than 165,000 PSAC members who report to the Treasury Department or a separate federal agency.

The union accused Minister Fortier of “breaking her word” by promising that there would be negotiations on a possible return to office.

It “doesn’t help to have trust at the negotiating table,” Mr. Barrière said in an interview with The Canadian Press, adding that there will be “total” pressure tactics directly linked to this announcement. “The Executive Council will meet tomorrow to draw up an action plan to respond to Ms Fortier,” he specified.

Teleworking is popular in the public sector, according to a poll of 3,300 PSAC union members last Friday. As many as 70% of them want nothing to do with a return to office and 85% would be ready to start pressure tactics, Mr Barrière argued.

He “doesn’t think” the union needs to make concessions to get telework. “On the contrary,” launched Mr. Barrière. “We’ve proven that we can improve service,” he said. Most departments have told us very openly that they see it as an improvement in customer service.

Another union, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), is outright demanding that the Treasury Board reverse its decision.

He argues that any return-to-the-office policy must prioritize productivity and health and safety.

“This regime does not meet either of those requirements: it is poorly designed, it is repressive and makes no sense, and we will not compromise on health and safety,” Jennifer Carr, the president of the ‘PIPSC, said in a letter statement.

Teleworking is also on the agenda of negotiations this union is having with the Treasury Board. Thursday’s announcement, PIPSC notes, does not encourage “good faith negotiations” and constitutes “a double affront” in light of the upcoming holiday season.