Office space scarce as federal public servants return to the office four days a week
Departments are phasing in the new schedule as space shortages, parking limits and transit concerns delay full compliance for some workers.
- On Monday, July 6, 2026, thousands of federal public servants began a new work schedule requiring four days in the office weekly under the RTO4 mandate, up from the three-day standard implemented in September 2024.
- Implementation faces hurdles as Global Affairs Canada and Health Canada report localized space limitations; managers and deputy directors will phase in the four-day schedule between July 6 and September 15 to manage workspace shortages.
- The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada have challenged the policy through legal grievances, arguing the mandate is a "handout" to banks protecting roughly $10 billion in commercial real estate exposure.
- Commuters face additional strain as the City of Ottawa manages approximately 7,000 long-term parking spaces, while OC Transpo canceled 105 school bus trips to redirect high-capacity buses for government worker routes.
- Carleton MP Bruce Fanjoy has criticized the "one-size-fits-all" approach, advocating for a flexible hybrid model and telling The Canadian Press that government should prioritize service efficiency over unproven productivity claims.
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38 Articles
Minister says expanded return-to-office rules about efficiency, but some public servants disagree
Monday marked the start of a new federal policy requiring all core federal public servants to be at work in-person four days a week, and while the rollout hasn’t gone over well with all workers, the federal finance minister says the move is about efficiency.
Federal public servants now required to be in office 4 days a week. Here’s what you need to know
Federal public servants will be spending four days a week in the office starting this week, as the federal government expands its return-to-office mandate. CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you need to know about the new in-office mandate for public servants.
Unions continue to oppose the new Ottawa directives on telework.
Office space is scarce as federal public servants return to the office four days a week
Thousands of federal public servants are starting a new work schedule on Monday that will see them on-site in the office four days a week, though a lack of office space is delaying the return for some departments.
Public servants are back in office four days a week — but not in these big departments
Most federal public servants are back in office four days per week as of Monday, but several of the largest departments and agencies won’t meet the government’s deadline for all employees.
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