Key Takeaways
- A group representing federal public servants is calling on the government to clarify its plans regarding return-to-office (RTO) rules
- There are rumors of a new order requiring federal employees to work in the office up to five days a week as early as 2026
- The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) has written to the Treasury Board President to express concerns about the potential change
- The government has stated that there are no planned changes to the current RTO rules, but the situation remains unclear
- The potential change has caused significant anxiety among federal public servants, who are already facing uncertainty due to workforce adjustments and unresolved issues from previous RTO directives
Introduction to the Issue
The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) has recently expressed concerns about potential changes to the return-to-office (RTO) rules for federal public servants. According to an internal Treasury Board Secretariat document cited by La Presse, the government may be considering requiring federal public servants to return to the office full-time by January 1, 2027. However, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has stated that there are no planned changes to the current RTO rules, which require employees to report in person three days a week.
Concerns and Uncertainty
The rumors of a potential change have caused significant anxiety among federal public servants, who are already facing uncertainty due to workforce adjustments and unresolved issues from previous RTO directives. CAPE president Nathan Prier has written to Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali to express concerns about the potential change and to request a meeting to discuss the issue. Prier has stated that the rumors are causing significant anxiety among CAPE members, who are already facing uncertainty and unresolved issues from previous RTO directives. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has also expressed concerns about the potential change, citing the insufficient office space and the potential impact on employees.
Government Response
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has stated that there are no planned changes to the current RTO rules. However, the situation remains unclear, and the government has not provided a clear answer to the questions about the potential change. When asked about the rumors, Ali shook his head and stated that he was not aware of any plans to require employees to work in the office five days a week. He also stated that he would look into the issue and discuss it with his team. However, the lack of a clear answer has only added to the uncertainty and anxiety among federal public servants.
Feasibility of the Potential Change
The potential change to require federal employees to work in the office five days a week has raised concerns about the feasibility of such a move. The state of federal office buildings has been cited as a major concern, with many buildings lacking sufficient space to accommodate all employees. The PSAC has stated that the current state of buildings would not permit a full return to office, and the CAPE has also expressed concerns about the potential impact on employees. The government has not provided a clear answer to the questions about how it plans to address the issue of office space, which has only added to the uncertainty and anxiety among federal public servants.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The situation regarding the potential change to the RTO rules for federal public servants remains unclear. The CAPE and the PSAC have expressed concerns about the potential change and have called on the government to provide a clear answer. The government has stated that there are no planned changes to the current RTO rules, but the lack of a clear answer has only added to the uncertainty and anxiety among federal public servants. The CAPE has requested a meeting with the Treasury Board President to discuss the issue, and the PSAC has also asked for a meeting. The next steps will depend on the government’s response to the concerns and the potential change to the RTO rules.