Federal public servants required to be in office four days a week as of July

""We are writing to inform you that the Government intends to increase the on-site presence of executives and employees who are eligible for hybrid work," the letter states. "We will be engaging with bargaining agents to seek their input on implementing this plan. These discussions will focus on important elements, such as the potential for allocation of assigned seating and occupational health and safety.""

"As was the case for most office jobs during the pandemic, many public servants who were able to were allowed to work from home as a health and safety measure. After the peak of the pandemic, the government formally adopted a hybrid work model. That policy was updated in September 2024 to require public servants to work on-site for a minimum of three days per week, while executives were required to be in the office four days a week."

The Treasury Board issued a directive requiring most public servants to be on-site at least four days per week beginning July 6, and requiring executives to work in the office five days per week beginning May 4. The directive was sent to deputy ministers by Secretary Bill Matthews, Chief Human Resources Officer Jacqueline Bodgen and associate Francis Trudel. The government will engage bargaining agents on implementation details including assigned seating and occupational health and safety. The measure follows an earlier hybrid model adopted after the pandemic and updated in September 2024. Public service unions have strongly criticized the increased on-site requirements, citing evidence of effective remote work.

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