Key Takeaways
- Global Affairs Canada (GAC) will keep most unionized staff on a three‑day‑a‑week office schedule, contrary to the Treasury Board’s four‑day mandate that begins July 6.
- Starting September 15, at least one of those three in‑office days must fall on a Monday or Friday.
- Managers (unionized or not) and assistant directors reporting to a director will be required to work four days on site, phased in between July 6 and September 15, and will receive assigned workspaces.
- Executives remain obligated to be in the office five days a week beginning May 4, as originally planned.
- The department cites ongoing renovation work that limits available space as the reason for the staggered, “phased” return‑to‑office approach.
- GAC is introducing a standardized annual telework‑agreement renewal cycle, with agreements needing renewal to take effect on September 15.
- The Public Service Alliance of Canada criticizes the shifting policy as a logistical mess, highlighting union concerns about forced office returns.
Background on Federal Return‑to‑Office Mandate
In February, the Treasury Board Secretariat issued a directive that all unionized federal public servants must return to the office for a minimum of four days per week, effective July 6. The policy was designed to standardize in‑person attendance across departments after years of flexible telework arrangements adopted during the pandemic. GAC, like other agencies, received this instruction and initially prepared to comply. However, internal assessments quickly revealed logistical obstacles that prevented a blanket implementation of the four‑day rule for the majority of its workforce.
GAC’s Internal Memo and Its Conclusions
An internal memorandum obtained by Radio‑Canada outlines GAC’s revised approach. The memo states that most of the department’s unionized employees will not be required to work four days a week in the office; instead, they will continue with the existing three‑day schedule for an indefinite period. The document, titled “New approach to increasing on‑site presence at headquarters and regional offices,” emphasizes that the change is a direct response to insufficient office space rather than a policy reversal on the part of senior leadership.
Impact on Unionized Employees
Unionized staff, who constitute the bulk of GAC’s 7,657‑person workforce (as of the latest headcount), will retain the three‑day‑a‑week in‑office requirement. Beginning September 15, at least one of those three days must be either a Monday or a Friday, a provision intended to ensure a minimal level of overlap for collaborative activities while still respecting space constraints. The memo does not specify a future date when the four‑day expectation might be reinstated, indicating that the three‑day model will persist until workspace availability improves.
Adjustments for Managers and Assistant Directors
Managers—whether unionized or exempt—and assistant directors who report directly to a director face a different schedule. They will be required to be present in the office four days a week, with the implementation phased in between July 6 and September 15. The memo justifies this heightened presence by arguing that managerial oversight “helps ensure employees receive timely and consistent in‑person guidance, which contributes to strengthening teamwork and collaboration.” To accommodate these employees, GAC will provide each manager with an assigned workspace during their on‑site days.
Rationale: Ongoing Renovations and Workspace Constraints
The central justification for the staggered rollout is the department’s ongoing renovation work, which has temporarily reduced the amount of usable office space. The memo explicitly notes that the “phased” return‑to‑office approach is being adopted “due to ongoing renovation work that is limiting available workspace.” Until sufficient space is restored—whether through the completion of renovations or alternative accommodation solutions—the department will maintain the flexible schedules outlined for different employee categories.
Executives’ Separate Requirements
Unlike unionized staff and managers, executives at GAC are not subject to the revised flexibility. The memo confirms that executives will continue to be required to work five days a week in the office, beginning May 4, as originally laid out in the Treasury Board’s directive. This distinction underscores the department’s effort to balance operational needs with spatial limitations while preserving a high level of visibility for senior leadership.
Telework Agreement Renewal Cycle
In addition to adjusting attendance patterns, GAC announced the introduction of a “standardized annual telework agreement renewal cycle.” The initiative aims to provide “greater clarity and predictability” in workspace management by requiring employees to renew their telework agreements for them to take effect on September 15. This systematic approach is intended to streamline administrative processes and ensure that telework arrangements align with the department’s evolving on‑site presence goals.
Union Reaction and Future Outlook
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) responded critically to the shifting policy, issuing an emailed statement that described the situation as “a logistical mess” and reiterated the union’s longstanding opposition to blanket office‑return mandates. The union’s commentary reflects broader concerns among federal employees about the feasibility and fairness of uniformly applying return‑to‑office rules amid varying departmental capacities. As renovations progress and space becomes available, GAC may revisit its schedules, but for now the department is navigating a compromise that seeks to meet federal directives while respecting real‑world limitations.