The federal government’s plan to require more public servants back in the office is facing growing logistical challenges, with multiple departments delaying the four-day in-office mandate because of insufficient workspace.
As of May 4, executives across the federal public service are required to return to the office five days a week under new directives from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. The broader policy requires most other federal employees to work on-site at least four days a week beginning July 6.
However, departments are now acknowledging they do not currently have enough office space to fully implement the mandate.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada confirmed that most non-management employees will temporarily continue working in-office only three days a week starting in July due to ongoing space limitations.
Under the department’s temporary approach:
- Executives must work on-site five days a week.
- Managers will work on-site four days a week beginning July 6.
- Most other employees will remain on a three-day office schedule, including at least one Monday or Friday.
The department said the measure will stay in place until additional office space becomes available through federal infrastructure partners.
The Department of National Defence has also warned that workspace will be “limited” in certain locations, particularly within the National Capital Region.
Officials say managers will assess space availability case-by-case and may grant temporary exceptions where physical capacity remains insufficient.
Last week, Global Affairs Canada became the first major department to publicly scale back the federal return-to-office directive.
The department said large-scale renovation projects at headquarters and other federal buildings in Ottawa have significantly reduced available workspace. As a result, many employees in the National Capital Region will continue reporting to the office only three days per week for now.
Federal officials say the phased approach is intended to balance operational requirements with employee needs, including commuting and caregiving responsibilities, while additional office space is secured and renovated.
The evolving situation highlights the continuing challenges facing the federal government as it attempts to transition employees back to in-person work several years after remote and hybrid work arrangements became standard during the pandemic.