A
return-to-office five days a week
is rumoured for the federal workforce, and details point to a much more structured approach than anything public servants have seen since before the pandemic.
An internal Treasury Board document obtained by
La Presse
lays out the clearest picture of how far the government may be prepared to go. The document indicates a stepped rollout to tighten attendance expectations across the core public service and introduce a more
rigid schedule in federal offices
.
Here’s what we know so far.
What triggered the current round of return-to-office concerns?
A PowerPoint slide leaked on December 1, seeming to outline the Treasury Board’s plans, ignited speculation about a possible move toward a five-day in-office work week. According to
La Presse,
an internal government document suggests a full-time mandate would be in place by 2027.
Senior officials also reportedly believe more in-person work could improve collaboration and productivity.
What are unions saying about the rumoured return-to-office plan?
Unions are pushing for clarity and warning of major consequences if the rumoured plan goes ahead. The Canadian Association of Professional Employees — one of Canada’s largest public sector unions
—
has asked the Treasury Board to address “persistent rumours” of a full-time return as early as 2026, while the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s president, Sharon DeSousa said she has seen a leaked slide circulating online but has received no confirmation from the government. She called the idea “reckless, costly and completely out of touch,” citing
and wider concerns about morale, productivity and recruitment.
Has the government confirmed any of it?
The Treasury Board has not confirmed a full-time return to office. Officials have repeated that “nothing has changed,” and the current three-day hybrid directive remains in place. They have neither confirmed nor denied the internal documents cited by
La Presse
.
How would this change compare to other government return-to-office decisions?
Ontario ordered provincial public servants back full-time starting in January, and
the City of Ottawa followed shortly after
. Those decisions have added pressure to the federal debate and heightened expectations that a tighter federal attendance model may be coming.
What is the current federal hybrid policy?
Most federal public servants are currently required to work in the office at least three days per week, with many executives expected to be on-site four days. Senior officials have affirmed hybrid work remains the policy, even as new options are reportedly evaluated.
Read: Is it fair that only some public servants can work from home full-time?
What would a potential full-time return to office mean for the current ‘hoteling’ system?
Dozens of departments and agencies in the core public service reported that more than half their staff had no dedicated workspace in 2024, and 18 said more than 90 per cent were “hoteling,” rotating through shared stations as they became available, according to data collected by the Ottawa Citizen. Unions warn office space is strained under the current three-day model, and a move to five days would create logistical challenges across the core public service.
Management experts say hoteling only functions when a portion of staff work from home. A full-time return would force departments either to assign permanent workspaces or reduce headcounts to fit within existing buildings. Union leaders say some offices are already struggling, with members working from cafeterias, meeting rooms and washrooms during peak days.
How are public servants reacting?
Public servants and contractors interviewed downtown described rising anxiety, concern about commute times and frustration at the uncertainty. Some have already been told internally to expect more in-office days as early as January. Workers cited longer travel times, strained transit, higher out-of-pocket costs and a fear of losing the flexibility hybrid work has created. Union leaders report “a lot of anxiety right now,” with staff worried about workspace shortages and disrupted routines.
Read more from Natasha Baldin here
What would a full return-to-office mandate mean for traffic in Ottawa?
A federal move to five days a week in the office would push more commuters onto
highways strained by construction
and rising demand. Highway 417 is operating with lane reductions at pinch points west of downtown, and O-Train construction in the east end continues to trigger ramp closures and detours. OC Transpo ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels, which leaves more people choosing to drive.
When the Treasury Board increased the number of days public servants were required to be in the office to three from two, there was a significant increase in traffic on Ottawa’s major roads.
Transportation experts told the
Ottawa Citizen
the region is seeing the sharpest year-over-year jump in commuting among Canada’s largest cities, with 76 per cent of Ottawa-Gatineau workers travelling to job sites as of May.
How prepared is OC Transpo for a potential five-day federal return?
OC Transpo leaders told city councillors they expect higher demand if the federal government mandates full-time in-office work, and say they’re ready to adjust. Recent ridership has climbed from 7.4 million trips in September to 7.8 million in October and staff say they’re monitoring the busiest midweek periods and preparing to adjust service where needed. The agency has new buses arriving, more e-buses entering service and the east LRT extension scheduled to open in early 2026, with the west extension targeted for early 2027.
Read more by Aedan Helmer here
If you have questions we haven’t answered, let us know in the comments.
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