The federal government has issued further details about its plan to return public employees to their offices three days a week, stating that it expects departments to implement the updated hybrid schedule by early September.

The Government of Canada published a detailed directive on its website Wednesday regarding "scheduled workplace attendance" to be followed by deputy heads of departments.

Earlier this week, an unauthorized federal government source speaking publicly on the matter confirmed to Radio Canada that the federal government expects public employees to return to their offices three days a week starting later this year. Major public sector unions stated that the news came without prior notice or consultation.

This is a significant shift from the bi-weekly hybrid model that drove approximately 155,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) to leave their jobs last year in what their union called a "turning point" for workers' rights.

The government has now confirmed it expects departmental managers who have not yet implemented the minimum requirement of three days in the office to do so by September 9.

The government stated that this directive will apply to all full-time, part-time, and indeterminate employees, as well as students and casual workers.

While insisting on having employees return to their offices at least 60% of the time, the government states it will allow them to do so on a weekly or monthly basis to allow for some flexibility.

"Workplaces differ from one organization to another. Deputy heads are to exercise discretion and adapt to their operational requirements," as stated on the website.

Several exceptions

The government stated that this directive will not apply to employees who were hired to work remotely before March 16, 2020.

Public employees of Indigenous origin are also exempt "who consider their location critical to their identity to work from their communities" and employees who have received permission from an assistant deputy minister to work remotely more than 125 kilometers from their office location.

The government added that "exceptions" will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The directive also states that department heads are responsible for ensuring that employees comply with the new hybrid work model through attendance reports, IP login data, or access records from turnstiles in the workplace.

The government encourages managers to have conversations with employees to discuss any barriers they may face and to find solutions to address those issues before the new hybrid schedule is implemented.

The directive states, "The employer has the exclusive managerial right to determine the work location and to require employees to report to their specified workplace."

The government adds that managers must ensure individual circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account human rights obligations and the duty to accommodate.

The government said, "Managers seeking to ensure compliance have the tools available to them, including various administrative measures."

The union "strongly opposes" the mandate

The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) issued a statement Wednesday in response to the government's confirmation.

The statement attributed to Nathan Beirer, CAPE President, read: "This announcement is a disaster. We are shocked by this decision that was made secretly without consultation and without valid justification."

"We will join our members and colleagues in their workplaces to fight against this decision that disregards common sense entirely."

Beirer stated that the federal government has not yet provided "any evidence or data" to support the claim that employees are more productive in the office.