A spokeswoman for Treasury Department President Mona Fortier said the government would finally take another year to “evaluate the benefits” of working from home for Canada’s IRS call centers, but also for immigration or employment and assess social development agencies.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) payroll clerks will also work from home for another year, as will judges at the Immigration and Refugee Agency.

Minister Fortier announced in December that all federal agency staff must return to office work at least two days a week to address inequalities in the public service. But since the early days of this announcement, certain exemptions have been granted.

In a memo, Catherine Luelo, Canada’s chief information officer, said that up to 20% of IT workers would not have to return to office work. M^Me Luelo also pointed out that the need to find and retain digital talent partially explains these exceptions.

The Treasury Department said on Wednesday that departments will consider housing requests on a case-by-case basis.

“Managers should proactively discuss with employees any barriers to hybrid working that they may encounter and find solutions to help overcome them in the hybrid workplace,” Minister Fortier spokeswoman Monica Granados said in a written statement.

A union representing more than 72,000 public employees said the Treasury told them the extensions were necessary because of hiring and retention issues, among other things.

Jennifer Carr, president of the Professional Institute of Public Service, said she doesn’t see a full implementation of a hybrid model anytime soon. And the exceptions granted will only lead to more chaos around an already contentious issue, she says. “We have had no reports of anything improving,” said Ms.^Me Carr.

Unions representing civil servants have expressed frustration with the policy since it was announced, particularly as several are actively negotiating with the government and believe it is in those negotiations that the hybrid working model should be decided.

The Treasury Department “isn’t showing up,” said Mr.^Me Carr. “They still hold the position that the return to power is not something that is negotiated. »

This story was produced with financial support from the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for News.