Several federal agencies outside the core public service are catching up to their counterparts but still lag behind departments that returned to the office four days a week on July 6, as mandated by the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS).
Core public service leads the way
On July 6, federal public servants within the core public service began working on site four days a week under TBS direction, while executives have been required to work five days a week since May. However, federal agencies operate outside the Treasury Board's purview, allowing them to decide independently whether to follow the directive.
Many agencies are aligning with the TBS timeline, but others face challenges such as office space limitations or logistical delays.
Agencies following the Treasury Board
Parks Canada has returned to the office in lockstep with the core public service, with employees resuming four-day in-office work on July 6. The National Research Council Canada also increased on-site presence for all employees on July 6, with executives already working full time.
The Canada Energy Regulator is set to return to four days a week starting Sept. 8, up from its previous two-day requirement. Similarly, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) followed the Treasury Board later in July, though it continues to face office-space pressures.
“It is important to recognize that the vast majority of employees will be able to work on site four days per week,” Etienne Biram, CRA spokesperson, said in a statement.
Other agencies adjusting schedules
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which previously required three days in the office, will move to four days a week in September. “Executives at the agency are now working five days a week starting on July 6 and some employees have continued to work on site full time in laboratories and inspection sites,” Christine Nasrallah, CFIA spokesperson, said in a statement.
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) has maintained full-time in-office work for many employees due to its intelligence mandate. “A large number of its employees have always worked full-time in the office,” said FINTRAC spokesperson Lori Blair, adding that the agency is “adhering to the Government of Canada’s return to office requirements.”
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) plans to return to four-day in-office work starting Oct. 5, after operating on two days for employees and three for executives. “The transition period enables FCAC to add workspace capacity and provide employees with sufficient advance notice,” said Nadine Légaré, FCAC spokesperson.
