Treasury Board 'committed to hybrid work' after reports of mandated change coming in fall
The Treasury Board of Canada will only say it is “committed to hybrid work,” as reports suggest federal workers may be required to spend more time in the office.
Le Droit, a French publication, first reported that the federal government is set to mandate public servants back to the office three days a week starting in September.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson said the Treasury Board will "continue to assess how hybrid work is implemented and optimized across the public service, adapting as necessary."
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government implemented a hybrid work policy, seeing employees in the office at least two days each week.
According to the Treasury Board website, the hybrid work policy, "gives employees whose jobs can be done remotely the flexibility of working at home when appropriate and in an office when required."
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is the largest union representing public servants, and regional executive Alex Silas said they were not consulted about any changes.
"We haven't had anything official confirmed or nothing official communicated either publicly by Treasury Board or to us at the union by Treasury Board," he said.
"What I will say, though, is if the Treasury Board does decide to move in this direction, then it completely flies in the face and goes against all the commitments they made at the bargaining table to work with the union to achieve flexible hybrid work arrangements for public service workers."
Silas said public servants continue to show that the hybrid model works.
"I agree that the downtown core and the businesses there need to be better supported, but that shouldn't fall on the backs of workers and the federal public service. The city of Ottawa should have a plan to support downtown Ottawa that doesn't just depend on the federal government."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was asked about the reports at a press conference in Ottawa Monday morning. He said, "I think that's really positive news. And it's all about revitalizing the downtown core here in Ottawa and supporting the mayor on the transit system." The Premier also referenced small business who might be struggling. "The federal government is the largest employer. So it's really, really good news that the staff is coming back to the work."
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also reacted, saying, "Downtown Ottawa has been hit disproportionately compared to other Canadian cities by the effects of COVID, by the effects of hybrid work. And the federal government in its recent budget talked about moving out of 50 per cent of its buildings in the downtown core and elsewhere in Ottawa. That will have a devastating impact on our economy. So we need to work with the federal government on a solution, and many solutions to make sure that we have economic prosperity in the downtown core, that small businesses and restaurants and shop owners are protected, that our finances as a city are protected."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of a 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
How to keep insects out of your house, according to an entomologist and other experts
Now that temperatures have warmed up even more this spring, you may be anxious at the thought of bugs invading your home or you may already be battling the pests. Here are expert tips on how to keep them away.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.
Ford thanks Ottawa as minister cites 'deep concerns' over Toronto's decriminalization
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is thanking the federal government for rejecting Toronto's long-stalled pitch to decriminalize the possession of illegal drugs.
Emergency convoy delivers provisions to survivors of devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea
Survivors searched through tons of earth and rubble by hand looking for missing relatives while a first emergency convoy delivered food, water and other provisions Saturday at the site of a landslide that devastated a remote village in the mountains of Papua New Guinea and was feared to have buried scores of people, officials said.
What we know about the young missionaries and religious leader killed in Haiti
The local director of a mission group in Haiti and a missionary couple from the U.S. were attacked and fatally shot by gang members after leaving a youth group activity at a church, a family member told The Associated Press.
After toddler's near drowning in backyard pool, Quebec mom has warning for parents
A Quebec mother who saved her child from the bottom of a backyard pool last weekend has a message for other families.