‘The policy was originally implemented in response to the public health crisis and will now be discontinued due to changing circumstances and sector trends’
The Alberta government is putting an end to its hybrid work arrangement in 2026.
The government’s Interim Hybrid Work Policy will be discontinued, and all Alberta Public Service (APS) employees will be required to work in the office five days each week starting Feb. 1 next year.
Alberta introduced the policy in March 2022 following the lifting of the province’s public health work-from-home order.
“The policy was originally implemented in response to the public health crisis and will now be discontinued due to changing circumstances and sector trends,” said the province’s Deputy Ministers’ Council in a press release. “The Deputy Ministers’ Human Resource Integration Committee decision reflects similar actions taken by other organisations, including the Government of Ontario.”
The interim policy was implemented to allow eligible APS employees to work from home up to two days per week. As of August 2025, nearly 12,600 APS employees, or approximately 44 per cent of the workforce, participated in hybrid arrangements.
Despite the end of the hybrid model, the APS emphasised its ongoing commitment to workplace flexibility.
“The APS remains committed to flexibility through other policies which employees can still access based on operational needs, such as hours of work averaging arrangements, flexible hours arrangements and modified work schedules. Medical accommodations will continue to be considered under the Duty to Accommodate Policy,” the Alberta government stated.
APS employees with additional questions are encouraged to contact their supervisor or Human Resource Business Partners for further information.
Ontario has also announced a full return to the office for all public service workers starting in 2026. Some private employers—such as Rogers Communications—will also be requiring workers to be present in the workplace five times a week, while others will have workers commuting to the office four out of the five working days
Employers welcome return to office
Alberta’s move to put an end to hybrid work is a positive development for business in the province, according to Quinn Phillips, director of marketing and communications with the Edmonton Downtown Business Association.
“To have more people in the downtown core during the daytime hours is going to be very supportive for our businesses,” she said, according to a CBC report. “And beyond that, it creates a really wonderful vibrancy.”
“We commend the government of Alberta for taking this important step to bring more people back to Edmonton’s Downtown,” said Cheryll Watson, chair of Edmonton’s Downtown Revitalization Coalition, in ann Edmonton Journal article.
However, Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Naheed Nenshi criticised the government for the move.
"The [United Conservative Party government] continues to disrespect workers," he said in a statement, according to CBC.
