Treasury Board of Canada announced on May 1st that all federal public service workers will have to work a minimum of three days per week in the office, starting in September. Every worker’s job and situation are unique, and a cookie cutter approach to telework does not work for Canada’s diverse public service.
This decision to change the telework mandate was made without any consultation, concretely violates the collective bargaining rights of tens of thousands of workers, and goes against the Letter of Agreement on Telework that we fought hard for and won in the last round of negotiations.
Our members successfully showed they can do most, if not all, of their work remotely during the pandemic. They delivered for Canadians then and deliver for Canadians now.
Remote work has transformed the way we work. The government of Canada has an opportunity to shape the future of work in ways that benefits not only workers but our communities.
Benefits of telework for workers (and employers)
Overwhelming evidence shows that a flexible work model has many benefits including an improved work-life balance, an increase in productivity, a more dynamic and diverse workforce, and a safer work environment.
Remote work has proven to be a game-changer when it comes to making workplaces more accessible and inclusive. It allows people living with visible or invisible disabilities to work in an environment that suits them best and Indigenous and racialized people to work in an environment free of microaggressions and discriminations. Remote work is also a way to attract a more diverse workforce, truly representing Canada. More Indigenous people may want to work for the public service if they do not have to leave their communities.
For new parents, a flexible work arrangement allows them to spend more time with their children before and after work. This is important for gender equity in the workplace as it helps working mothers avoid having to choose between family commitments and career progression. A survey by Statistics Canada clearly shows that employees who work remotely have more time to take care of their households and their children.
Flexible work arrangements can also benefit employers. Studies show that working from home leads to increased productivity, fewer interruptions, and better time management. This is not new information. The Telework Research Network published information on this over ten years ago.
Benefits of telework for Canadian communities
With telework, we have the opportunity to tap into the wealth of talent across the country and truly have a public service that reflects our Canadian realities. When our public service reflects all aspects of Canadian life, from Indigenous communities to coastal towns, we can have policies that are adapted to the needs of Canadians, not just the ones who live in urban centres.
By letting people choose where they work, we can spread public sector jobs across Canada, which would contribute to local economies. This has the potential to drive growth in smaller towns and rural communities, would support stable employment and maintain healthy economies beyond our nation’s capital. During the pandemic, many smaller communities, within or outside Ottawa or Gatineau’s city limits, thrived due to the newfound flexibility. Workers would frequent more local businesses and contribute to the economy where they live.
Furthermore, research shows that every dollar spent in the public sector, including the public service, adds between $1.09 and $1.28 to the Canadian economy. By being able to choose where they work, public sector workers can make a significant difference for cash-strapped smaller communities.
Remote work also significantly benefits the environment by reducing daily commutes, which lowers greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion. Home offices often use less energy than large, outdated office buildings, and urban areas benefit from improved air quality and reduced noise pollution.
Canadians understand the benefits of flexible remote work. Research through Abacus Data among the general Canadian population shows that 69% of Canadians are in favour of employees having the flexibility of working from home full-time or part-time.
A majority of respondents also believe the federal government should lead by example and provide flexible work arrangements where possible. Canadians do not care about where federal public service workers do their work, as long as it gets done in a timely manner.
What you had to say
More than 65,000 PSAC members have responded to PSAC’s survey on telework, including over 10,000 members in the National Capital Region. Here’s what you had to say:
- 84% strongly oppose going to the office three days a week.
- Your mental health, caregiving responsibilities, commute times, job satisfaction and productivity are much worse when you go to the office.
- Over half experience issues with accommodations, having thus to work in an unsafe environment.
- 75% say there are not enough workspaces for everyone.
This uniform approach to mandating employees’ presence it the workplace is uncosted and not evidenced-based. Our members need a commitment to assess telework on a case-by-case basis to ensure ALL federal public service workers’ needs are met. This is good for workers, good for employers and good for all Canadians.