Senior officials in Canada’s federal public service are returning to full-time, in-office work starting today, marking a significant shift in workplace policy led by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
Under the new directive, executives working in core government departments and agencies are now required to be physically present in the office five days a week. The policy is part of a broader effort to increase on-site work across the public service, with all other federal employees expected to move to a minimum of four in-office days per week starting July 6.
The decision follows a gradual rollback of pandemic-era remote work arrangements. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, most public servants were directed to work from home. Hybrid models were later introduced, with employees returning to offices part-time — most recently at three days per week since September 2024.
While the current directive applies specifically to departments under Treasury Board authority, several major agencies, including the Canada Revenue Agency and the National Research Council Canada, have indicated they are likely to adopt similar policies.
The shift has not been without resistance. Federal unions have strongly opposed the return-to-office mandates, arguing they limit flexibility and fail to reflect modern workplace realities. Some unions have gone as far as filing unfair labour practice complaints against the government.
According to Treasury Board data, there were approximately 9,340 executives within the federal public service as of March 2025, out of a total workforce of nearly 358,000 employees.
The move signals a continued push by the federal government to re-establish in-person operations, even as debates around productivity, employee well-being and workplace flexibility remain ongoing.