Federal public service unions say the government’s plan to bring workers back to the office is confusing, divisive and a threat to health and safety.
Treasury Canada released its guidelines on hybrid work arrangements in May, tasking government departments with deciding “whether, to what extent, and how” the location of work can be made flexible.
Deputy chiefs will make health and safety decisions in the context of how their organization operates, guided by public health authorities and workplace health and safety committees, Treasury spokeswoman Barb Kuperus said in a statement Thursday.
In the coming months, she said departments will gather evidence and test different hybrid approaches.
“Given the diversity of the federal government’s workforce and operations, there is not going to be a one-size-fits-all,” Cooperus said, noting that jobs range from Coast Guard vessels to laboratories and prisons.
Jennifer Carr, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, said the board’s decision to “devolve” responsibility for figuring out how to bring employees back to individual departmental offices means approaches are uncoordinated and vary widely.
She said this makes it difficult for the union to provide guidance to members on how a proper return to work should occur.
Given that many of its 60,000 members — some of whom are scientists — have been working on the front lines since the pandemic began, Carr said he is looking for assurances that jobs are safe.
Specifically, this means ensuring that there are appropriate ventilation rates and appropriate capacity limits, as well as appropriate masking policies.
Earlier this month, the Canadian Association of Professional Employees called for a halt to the return to offices, citing concerns about the “serious and unnecessary risk to the health and safety” of its members who are required to return to work due to the pandemic of COVID-19 enters its seventh wave.
It also says hospitals simply cannot cope with unnecessary increases in infection rates.
President Greg Phillips said in an interview Wednesday that members had not received any justification why it was necessary to start the hybrid session and return to work now.
“Treat us like the professionals we are, show us the rationale,” Phillips said. “Explain to us why it’s necessary and then we’ll get our support and our buy-in.” Otherwise, we’ll just be left wondering – not knowing what the hell is going on.”
The association represents more than 20,000 federal workers, including people who provide translation services, staff in the Library of Parliament and civilian members of the RCMP.
“Worker health and safety must always be a priority as departments make decisions about bringing employees back to the office and workspaces,” said Geoffrey Wallis, a spokesperson for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, in a recent statement.
Wallis said his group has asked the Treasury Board to build flexibility into plans so employers are prepared for future waves and variants of COVID-19 and to phase in a return to offices to ease workers’ anxiety.
He said most members still work remotely and many want to continue to have that flexibility, and that the alliance will fight to include telecommuting in its collective agreements during the current round of negotiations.
Finance Board President Mona Fortier in February gave the go-ahead for departments to “resume planning to gradually increase building occupancy while continuing to adhere to the appropriate use of preventive workplace practices.”
She also said at the time that she expects organizations to adjust their planning based on the changing public health context.
Health Canada’s Occupational Health Public Service Program provides federal departments and agencies with guidance on workplace health, including regarding COVID-19.
That program updates its guidelines in line with the latest science and the latest advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Cooperis said. Fortier was not immediately available for comment.
But employees have options if telecommuting arrangements are a priority, and that can steer people toward “more flexible, understanding organizations,” Carr said.
She also said there had to be a good reason for the change, recounting the experience of one member who had to return to the office only to connect virtually with colleagues when they were there.
“Is this really the evaluation of the employee?” In a tight labor market, civil servants have options,” she said.
Phillips said he wanted the Treasury Board to consult with unions so they could raise questions about the approach to hybrid working.
“Obviously they haven’t thought this thing through. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be this mass confusion everywhere,” he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 29, 2022.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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