Category Archives: telework

What the federal government was hiding about their telework mandate

New Access to Information documents show that the federal government’s decision to impose a rigid three-day in-office mandate was not based on data or research on productivity, despite clear evidence that hybrid work boosts performance. The documents reveal the government ignored their own evidence and steamrolled ahead with a plan.

Internal documents show that telework is proven to enhance productivity and improve employee well-being — something PSAC and other unions have long argued. Statistics Canada data also confirms that as hybrid and remote work increased from 2019 to 2023, public service productivity saw a net positive impact. Yet, none of this evidence was factored into the mandate.

“This government once had a vision to build a modern, productive, and inclusive public service, but they’ve thrown it all away for no valid reason,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “They had the research and results supporting a more flexible approach, but decided that butts in seats is more important than productivity. Their failure to follow the evidence on hybrid work is mindboggling.”

In 2022, the government was fully committed to flexible work arrangements, with internal communications highlighting a goal for a “distributed, flexible, talented, inclusive, productive workforce and welcoming workplace.” Yet in a complete 180-degree turn, the new mandate was implemented without any supporting data.

The documents also revealed that the government anticipated strong opposition from both employees and unions, yet they moved forward with the least popular option anyways. Treasury Board officials knew the policy would cause workplace disruptions but gave bargaining agents just one hour’s notice, despite months of planning.

PSAC is calling on the federal government to scrap the mandate, rethink its approach, and follow the evidence, which shows that hybrid work leads to higher productivity, better work-life balance, and healthier workplace cultures. The current mandate not only threatens productivity but undermines the values of fairness and collaboration the government claims to support.

“If the government really wants to be a leader in the future of work, it’s time for them to start making evidence-based decisions that benefit both workers and the Canadian population,” added DeSousa. “Arbitrary mandates and ignoring the data will only set us back.”

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Federal in-office mandate takes effect, workers hold their ground

As the federal government’s new three-day in-office mandate officially took effect on Monday, thousands of union members took to the street in protest, determined to defend telework and the future of work in Canada.

PSAC members united with members from the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), and the Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO) at nationwide protests to contest the government’s policy and fight for a fair approach to telework that puts workers first.

Telework has become more than just a temporary solution, it’s a proven model that enhances productivity and the well-being of workers. It helps workers balance their personal lives with their jobs, reduces our carbon footprint, and creates a more inclusive public service.

“Telework isn’t just a trend, it’s the future of work and the next frontier of workers’ rights,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. “We’ve seen firsthand how telework improves peoples’ lives and makes our public service more inclusive and responsive to the needs of Canadians. That’s why we’re committed to fighting for a future that puts workers first.”

It’s clear that PSAC members have serious concerns about this new mandate:

Over 20,000 registered for our virtual telework town halls;
More than 40,000 signed our petition in its first week;
And 65,000+ filled out our telework survey.

Our members are engaged, fired up, and ready to take this fight to the next level.

In the coming weeks, we’re kicking off a national telework campaign in partnership with PIPSC, CAPE, and ACFO. Fueled by a $1 million investment —a clear demand from members at our national convention — the campaign will drive the fight for fair, flexible, and future-focused telework policies that truly work for workers.

We know that #RemoteWorks. Together, let’s make sure the government knows we won’t back down.

Take action now:

Sign the petition: Demand the repeal of the three-day in-office mandate.
Take our survey: Share how the mandate impacts your work and life.
File a grievance: Hold the government accountable for violating the telework agreement.
Read our FAQs: Get answers to your most pressing questions about telework and the government’s mandate.
Use our digital tools: Show solidarity with virtual backgrounds, social media images, and #RemoteWorks posters.
Spread the word: Start a conversation on social media and encourage coworkers to take action, too.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PSAC: Sign our petition to help defend telework and modernize our workplaces.

The federal government wants to force employees to work in ill-equipped offices three days per week only to spend it on virtual meetings. But we know there’s a better way. The outlook for Canada’s public service is bright, and we’re ready to embrace a new future of work.

Are you ready to join us?

This isn’t just about where we work — it’s about our future, our well-being, and the kind of public service we want to build together.

Sign the petition

Public service workers have experienced firsthand the benefits of telework. It’s a proven model that enhances our work-life balance, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. Yet the Trudeau Liberal’s mandate threatens to undo all the progress we’ve made. So, we’re calling on you to take action.

Sign the petition to demand the government repeal the three-day in-office mandate and move to the promised case-by-case framework for telework, rather than the one-size-fits-none model they have committed to. We also want them to enshrine this policy into our collective agreements during the next round of bargaining.

We plan to organize an action to deliver this petition directly to government ministers and department leaders. If you’re ready to fight for telework and help shape the future of our workplace, let us know.

We’re not just signing a petition — we’re building a movement.

Sign the petition

If you’ve signed the petition and want to get involved in another way:

Take a short survey: We want to hear about your personal experience with the in-office mandate and how you’re willing to fight back.
File a grievance: Collectively filing thousands of individual grievances will hold Treasury Board accountable for violating the agreement on telework PSAC negotiated in the last round of bargaining and pressure them to respect their obligations under the agreement.
Read our FAQs: We’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions about telework and the government’s in-office mandate.
Share these actions: Start a dialogue on social media, encourage your coworkers to sign the petition or file a grievance, and continue making noise so the employer won’t be able to ignore us.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Join the national virtual town hall on telework

As the September 9 deadline for the federal government’s three-day in-office mandate approaches, many PSAC members are expressing concerns about how this will impact work-life balance, productivity, and overall well-being.

To help address these concerns, PSAC is collaborating with other federal public service unions to host a virtual town hall on telework. This is an opportunity for unions to give an update on we have been doing to fight back, discuss the challenges of the in-office mandate and how we can collectively push for a future of work that benefits everyone — a future where flexible work arrangements are the norm, not the exception. Because #RemoteWorks.

When:

Tuesday, August 27, 5 p.m. ET -> Register now

Wednesday, August 28, 12 p.m. ET -> Register now

Wednesday, August 28, 8 p.m. ET -> Register now

Who:

Sharon DeSousa, National President, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
Jennifer Carr, President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
Nathan Prier, National President, Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)
Dany Richard, President, Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO)

The government’s current directive threatens to undo the progress made with telework, a model that has significantly improved job satisfaction and work-life balance. Join the town hall to learn more about the implications of the mandate and how we can push back together.

Ensure your voice is heard as we strive for a modern, inclusive, and flexible workplace.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

DeSousa: It’s not about one day. It’s about the next ten years and beyond.

The following op-ed by PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa was published by The Hill Times on August 6, 2024.

We are at a pivotal moment in shaping the future of this country. The shift towards remote work has ignited a potential revolution in Canada’s workforce and public service. But if the government doesn’t change its shortsighted approach, we’re in danger of missing this golden opportunity.

The question in front of us isn’t just about where we work, but how we work, why we work, and what we’re working towards. We need to ask ourselves: what do we want this country to look like ten years from now? And what kind of public service will make that vision a reality?

Canada’s public service workers have a global reputation for excellence. The UK-based Institute for Government has consistently ranked our public service among the world’s most effective. This is thanks in large part to the dedication, competence, and vision of thousands of workers across the country. Workers who take immense pride in serving Canadians.

Unfortunately, instead of harnessing the collective wisdom and experience of our public service workforce, the government is making unilateral decisions and failing to engage with us around the future of our public service. This actively undermines our ability to deliver the kinds of services and programs that are envied around the world. Public service workers, and the people and businesses we serve, deserve better.

Rather than fighting to be treated with basic respect, we could be collaborating on building the public service of tomorrow. One that seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology while maintaining the human touch that Canadians value. One that is a leader in innovation – not just in Canada, but on the global stage.

To build a better future, we need forward-thinking policies and a team effort. The government should be working with us on things like reducing costly outsourcing, enhancing service delivery, and creating a motivated, diverse workforce made up of talented workers from every corner of our vast country.

We need to invest in continuous learning and the development for our workforce, ensuring they are equipped to navigate the challenges of an AI-driven world. We must reimagine our organizational structures to be more agile and able to respond to changing needs. And critically, we need to foster a culture that values and empowers our public service, recognizing that their well-being and motivation are key to delivering excellent services and programs.

Remote work also creates new economic and social opportunities. The think tank l’Institut de recherche et d’information socioéconomiques reports that for every dollar spent in the public sector, as much as $1.28 is injected into our economy. Just think about the benefits this could bring to cash-strapped smaller or remote and Indigenous communities.

Workers spread out across the country will also make our public service more inclusive and accessible. This means a public service that’s more representative of Canada’s diverse population.

Canadians are ready to embrace a new future of work. Seven in 10 say they’re in favour of employees having the flexibility to work from home, according to a recent Abacus poll.

Forcing employees into a random office one more day a week to spend their days in Zoom meetings won’t prepare our workplaces for coming technological advances. It won’t help transform buildings into much-needed affordable housing. And it won’t build the Canada of the future.

The outlook for Canada’s public service is bright. But reaching our potential requires a genuine partnership between the government and its employees. We are ready to bring our expertise, our dedication, and our innovative ideas to the table. We challenge the government to match our commitment, stop imposing arbitrary edicts and start engaging in meaningful dialogue.

Let’s choose the kind of change that brings the most benefits to our people and communities. Together, we can forge a public service that not only meets the needs of today, but leads the way into tomorrow.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.