Federal workers launch campaign for flexible work

Michelle Gerwing reports on push back from federal employees who want more flexibility to work from home.

Unions representing federal workers want employees to have the option to work from home if their jobs can theoretically be done from anywhere.

“All we’ve ever been asking for is that employees have the option to make a case,” said Marianne Hladun, the prairies regional executive vice-president for the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Her union and two others representing federal public servants argue a three-day-a-week mandate is being applied unilaterally and they would like remote work to be assigned on a case-by-case basis.

“If it makes sense and they can get the work done and they’re being productive and they’re meeting all of their targets, then they should be allowed to do that,” she said.

The three-day remote work requirement was brought in for federal staff in September 2024. A spokesperson for the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat told CTV News Monday that it was done to ‘provide greater consistency and to maximize organizational cohesion, collaboration, and organizational performance.’

“Executives are expected to work onsite a minimum of four days per week so that they are able to provide the leadership and support that their teams need,” they wrote.

They also said there is a process where requests for accommodations can be made which are assessed by each department.

University of Winnipeg business professor Katherine Breward said push back is natural when a policy is applied across the board.

“It’s important to remember that remote work exists for a reason,” she said. “It exists so we can better maintain our mental health, our well-being, we can lower stress, and so we can have a more equitable and just workplace where diverse workers are welcome.”

Winnipeg-based recruiter Matt Erhard said many large-scale businesses in Manitoba offer that three-day in-office schedule.

“I do find that is offering some degree of flexibility, while also giving the benefits of some of that in-person time as well, too,” he said.

He added that if employers are asking staff back to the office, they need to step up.

“Walk that talk and actually increase that engagement and make employees feel like they do want to come to the office for those reasons,” he said.

Ariel Desrochers’ job is hybrid – three days in-office, two at home.

“I prefer to do a hybrid situation. I like being in the office, but I also like being at home,” she said.

Desrochers works on the sustainable transportation team at the Green Action Centre. She said another positive to hybrid or remote work is the environmental benefits.

“The majority of Winnipeggers’ commutes are made by a single occupancy vehicle,” she said. “Just a car or a truck, and it’s about 80 per cent of Winnipeggers that use single-occupancy vehicles. So that’s a lot of cars on the road each and every day.”

In a statement to CTV News, a provincial spokesperson said government employees can request two days a week to work remotely.

“There is room for some discretion based on management approval,” the statement reads. The remote work agreements have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic.”

They said the remote work agreements are regularly reviewed.

The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ said the more people downtown, the better.

“We know more people living, working, studying and visiting downtown increases safety and drives economic activity,” Olivia Billson, director of marketing, engagement and communications said in a statement.

“We recognize that hybrid work models are here to stay, and businesses need to do what is in the best interest of their employees and organization.”