The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a workplace shift that was already underway – both globally and within Canada’s federal public sector. Federal offices were “already about 40 per cent empty before the pandemic,” according to Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
When federal public sector employees were forced to adapt quickly to working from home in March 2020, they thrived. For many, the flexibility to work remotely led to higher productivity and a better work-life balance.
Those who can telework should have the flexibility to choose the model that works for them.
But since 2022, the government has taken measures to scale back federal public sector employees’ ability to work remotely, requiring employees to work from an office at least two days a week. In April 2024, the Treasury Board announced that the number of mandated in-office days would be increasing to three days a week. This change happened unilaterally, with no consultation with employees or their unions, and did not consider existing issues with the hybrid policy already in place, or the negative impacts on employees.
CAPE is committed to winning telework rights for its members. Through our Telework Rights Working Group we are building a grassroots, member-led campaign to secure remote work for our members – and across the federal public sector.
Ultimately, CAPE aims to secure the right to telework in collective agreements, so that public sector employees can focus on what matters most – delivering for Canadians.
Petitions
Push for telework continues – Petition your DM
Updates
October 29, 2024 - PRESS RELEASE: Coalition calls on Ottawa citizens and local organizations to support remote work as key strategy to transform cities
October 23, 2024 - Media advisory: Press conference: Coalition of unions, community organizations launch ‘Cities Reimagined: Remote Work Transformation Pledge’
October 11, 2024 - CAPE calls on Parliament to investigate RTO policy failures
October 9, 2024 - CLC Congress: CAPE and PSAC call on other unions to join the fight for remote work rights
October 8, 2024 - October 22 - Next meeting of regional track of Telework Rights Working Group
October 7, 2024 - Hill Times op-ed: When the government prioritizes perception over productivity, we’re all in trouble
September 19, 2024 - Ottawa Citizen op-ed: Modernizing the federal workplace starts with remote work
September 9 ,2024 - Return-to-office - we want to hear from you!
September 9, 2024 - Media release: Canada’s federal public service unions vow to continue fight for remote work rights as revised Direction on prescribed presence in the workplace takes effect
September 6, 2024 - Regional track of Telework Rights Working Group
September 6, 2024 - Media advisory: CAPE, PSAC, PIPSC, ACFO and other federal public sector union members rally for remote work rights
September 5, 2024 - Hill Times op-ed: Government claims in-office presence needed to boost collaboration. Respectfully, what are they thinking?
September 5, 2024 - September 9 RTO solidarity rally
August 30, 2024 - Federal Court declares that government must justify return-to-office decision
August 21, 2024 - Media advisory: CAPE, PIPSC and other federal public sector union members gather for remote work rights
August 17, 2024 - Ottawa Citizen op-ed: Prier: Sutcliffe plays blame game instead of solving transit problems
August 13, 2024 - Push for telework continues – Petition your DM
August 8, 2024 - Letter to Treasury Board President Anita Anand: Impacts of increased office presence on women in the public sector
August 6, 2024 - Rallies on Aug 8 – Say No to Mandatory In-Office Days
July 23, 2024 - CAPE meets with Mayor of Gatineau to discuss complete cities
June 13, 2024 - CAPE withdraws from federal government’s committee on telework
June 12, 2024 - An open letter to Treasury Board President Anita Anand
May 30, 2024 – Remote Work Rally: Unions stand up to Treasury Board president and Ottawa mayor
May 24, 2024 – Every employee has the right to work in a safe environment: the Portage incident
May 23, 2024 – CAPE, other federal unions and community leaders rally for remote work
May 22, 2024 – Media advisory: CAPE members rally for remote work rights to support stronger communities
May 8, 2024 – CAPE announces policy grievance and unfair labour practice against return-to-office mandate
May 8, 2024 – Joint letters from bargaining agents to TBS president and Jagmeet Singh
May 7, 2024 – Media advisory: Coalition of public sector unions challenging federal government’s in-office mandate
May 1, 2024 – CAPE fiercely opposes three-day per week return-to-office mandate
January 17, 2024 – Message from CAPE President Nathan Prier
CAPE in the news
Resources
Recording of Remote Work to Reimagine the City event
Sign your department’s petition
A closer look at your political rights [PDF] August 2024
Union activity at work [PDF] August 2024
Virtual background - bilingual - mirrored
Virtual background - bilingual - not mirrored
Telework Local Organizing Committees
CAPE Telework Survey Results (May 2024)
CAPE Return-to-Office Survey Results (September 2022)
Direction on prescribed presence in the workplace
Media articles of interest
*Please note that the news is provided in the original language only.
Ottawa Citizen - October 28
Public servants in Canada aren’t alone — Europeans want better remote work rights, too
Toronto Star - October 23
As federal workers fight office mandate, study finds remote work has climate benefits
Ottawa Citizen - October 3
Analysis shows public sector productivity grew while working from home
CTV News - October 3
Most Canadians want employers to be flexible on hybrid work arrangements in the future, survey finds
Ottawa Citizen - September 30
Fire departments struggle with diminished volunteers as public servants return to office
Ottawa Citizen - September 27
CRTC raffling off office space in 'absurd and insulting' charity drive for public servants
Radio-Canada - September 25
Retour au bureau des fonctionnaires : Ottawa a choisi l’option la plus « perturbatrice » (French only)
CBC - September 25
Government concerned about public scrutiny in mandating workers back to office
Radio-Canada - September 13
Fonctionnaires fédéral + bureau + trafic (French only)
The Globe and Mail - September 8
Ottawa embraces Luddite thinking in forcing civil servants back to the office
Hill Times - September 5
Hill Times op-ed: Government claims in-office presence needed to boost collaboration. Respectfully, what are they thinking?
Ottawa Citizen - August 17
Ottawa Citizen op-ed: Prier: Sutcliffe plays blame game instead of solving transit problems.
TVO - June 12
You can try to bully workers back into the office — but that won’t solve the real problem
Phys.org - June 12
Economist says hybrid work is a 'win-win-win' for productivity, performance and retention
Ottawa Citizen - June 6
Ching: An action plan that could rescue and rebuild downtown Ottawa
Globe and Mail – June 4
Nearly half of the federal government’s office space could be converted to housing, expert firm says
Globe and Mail – June 1
Wasted Space
Toronto Star – June 1
Navigating the Four Horsemen of Ottawa’s return to office mandate
Gartner - May 20
The Data Is In: Return-to-Office Mandates Aren’t Worth the Talent Risks
