Ottawa, October 11, 2024 - The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) calls on the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) to investigate the catastrophic failures surrounding the return-to-office policy and to invite CAPE into the process as a witness.
Considering the information CAPE has collected over the last few months, and since the failed implementation of return-to-office three days a week on September 9, CAPE is holding our members’ employer accountable. At the same time as putting CAPE’s members’ office presence and productivity under more scrutiny, the employer is failing to provide them with adequate available office space and the basic minimum to be able to do their jobs effectively.
CAPE’s members and other federal public sector workers have reported widespread failures in this mandate affecting their productivity and ability to do their jobs. This includes, but is not limited to, insufficient workspaces; inadequate equipment; insufficient lockers; limited meeting and collaboration spaces; health and safety violations; noisy office environments; privacy concerns from unprecedented surveillance measures; impact on stress and anxiety; work-life balance; and employee morale.
Given that most of CAPE’s members have been doing their jobs from home for more than four years with no issues of productivity (and in fact, reported higher productivity), we feel this investigation is needed to restore order and trust in their employer and ensure a healthier and more productive environment for all public sector employees.
OGGO is the same committee that investigated past failures on behalf of the employer, including the changeover of the public sector health care plan from Sun Life to Canada Life as part of its mandate.
See the letter to OGGO requesting the investigation.
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Media contact:
Laura Gauthier
lgauthier@acep-cape.ca
613-261-6526
