Federal Government Implements Mandatory Four-Day Office Return Policy
The federal government of Canada has announced a significant shift in workplace policy, mandating that all federal employees who have been working remotely must return to the office for a minimum of four days each week. This directive represents a substantial change from the flexible arrangements that have been in place since the pandemic began.
Implementation Timeline and Executive Requirements
According to the Treasury Board announcement made on Thursday, the new policy will be implemented in two phases. Federal executives will be required to work onsite five days per week starting on May 4, while all other employees must transition to a four-day onsite work schedule beginning July 6.
The government emphasized that increasing onsite presence serves as "an essential foundation of strong teams, collaboration and culture needed during this pivotal moment and beyond." This statement underscores the administration's belief that physical workplace interaction is crucial for organizational effectiveness.
Consultation Process and Practical Considerations
In a letter signed by Treasury Board Secretary Bill Matthews, the government indicated plans to engage with bargaining agents to seek their input on implementing this new workplace arrangement. These discussions will focus on several practical elements including:
- Potential allocation of assigned seating arrangements
- Addressing occupational health and safety standards
- Managing office space requirements across different locations
Public Services and Procurement Canada, which manages federal office space for approximately 100 organizations, has committed to addressing the new onsite office space requirements. The department will identify potential solutions for locations where sufficient space may not be immediately available.
Broader Public Service Context and Provincial Parallels
This federal mandate aligns with similar moves across provincial governments. As of this week, all provincial employees in Alberta have returned to the office full-time following the Alberta government's decision to end its public service hybrid work policy in October. That change took effect on February 2, affecting approximately 12,600 employees who had moved to hybrid work arrangements in August.
Similarly, Ontario's public service and employees in provincial agencies, boards and commissions returned to the office full-time on January 5, as announced by Premier Doug Ford's government last August. Ontario's approach was gradual, first requiring employees to increase from three to four days per week starting October 25 before implementing the full-time mandate.
Union Response and Workforce Statistics
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents over half of Ontario's public servants, criticized the back-to-office announcement made in August, stating it was implemented "without consideration for the realities frontline public service workers face." This highlights potential tensions between management directives and employee perspectives on workplace flexibility.
As of October 2025, the federal public service employed 357,965 individuals, with 279,396 working in core public administration and the remainder employed by separate agencies. The government has strongly encouraged these separate agencies to adopt similar return-to-office approaches.
Prime Minister Mark Carney had signaled in December that such workplace changes were forthcoming, indicating this policy shift has been under consideration for several months. The announcement comes as many organizations across Canada have begun implementing their own return-to-office mandates, with numerous employers expected to follow suit throughout the year.
