'There may not be enough workstations'

The federal government is insisting it can secure enough desks for public servants as it moves to a four‑day‑a‑week office mandate, even as unions and experts warn that many buildings are already at or beyond capacity.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) will work with departments “to ensure adequate office space is available” as new presence rules take effect, according to a statement reported by CBC.

At the same time, Treasury Board spokesperson Martin Potvin acknowledged that “there may not be enough workstations at some locations to meet the four‑day work week requirement for all staff” at the start of the rollout, according to the same report.

The space pledge comes on top of a “Message to Deputy Heads” posted on the government’s website, in which the Treasury Board and the CHRO directed departments to prepare for executives to be on‑site five days a week as of May 4, 2026, and for most other hybrid‑eligible public servants to work in the office four days a week starting July 6, 2026. 

The memo said Ottawa “intends to increase the on‑site presence of executives and employees who are eligible for hybrid work,” and described working together in person as “an essential foundation of the strong teams, collaboration and culture needed during this pivotal moment and beyond.”

The directive builds on a three‑day‑a‑week attendance requirement fully implemented in September 2024 after years of widespread remote work during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Business community urges careful execution

Ottawa’s business community has welcomed the tougher line on office attendance, arguing that greater predictability from the federal government is critical for downtown planning and investment.

In a formal statement on the renewed return‑to‑office (RTO) mandate, the Ottawa Board of Trade called the announcement “an important moment for Ottawa’s economy” and said it “responds directly to our calls for a transparent and predictable federal workforce strategy, one that allows businesses, investors, and economic partners to plan with confidence.”

President and CEO Sueling Ching said “certainty matters,” describing clarity around federal presence, people and places as “a critical economic signal” that supports decision‑making, investment and growth in the capital’s core.

However, the Board of Trade also stressed that “execution matters,” warning that any benefits for downtown recovery depend on clear timelines, consistent enforcement and coordination across governments. It pointed to transit, childcare, building readiness and surrounding services as areas that must be aligned if the shift to more in‑person work is to support, rather than strain, the city’s infrastructure.

The statement added that the moment underlines the need to diversify Ottawa’s economic base with a stronger mix of public and private employers, residents and cultural activity, so the city is less exposed to federal workforce decisions in future.

Criticism from unions

However, federal unions say the government’s assurances on office space and collaboration do little to address concerns about process, capacity and legality.

In a Feb. 5, 2026 release, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) called the four‑day in‑office mandate “a slap in the face of the workers this government depends on to deliver its agenda” and “an insult to workers,” noting that the decision was announced “in the midst of ongoing bargaining, and without any consultation with unions.” PSAC argued that changing prescribed presence in the workplace while negotiations are under way is “grounds for legal action,” and said it is prepared “to take any legal action against changes to the in‑office mandate.”

PSAC also highlighted a recent ruling by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board involving Library of Parliament staff, which found that the employer cannot refuse to negotiate key telework provisions as part of collective bargaining. The union said the government is ignoring that decision while simultaneously issuing thousands of workforce adjustment notices.

Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) national president Marc Brière also criticized the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) commissioner for quickly committing to follow the Treasury Board’s approach, despite CRA’s status as a separate employer that is only “encouraged” to do so. 

Brière argued that changing attendance expectations while workers are without a contract breaches the statutory “freeze” on terms and conditions under the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act, and said PSAC is reviewing options for an unfair labour practice complaint.

Experts question space, rationale and legal footing

Union leaders and outside observers are also sceptical that the government can reconcile its office‑space pledge with conditions on the ground.

Many federal workplaces have struggled even with the existing three‑day‑a‑week requirement. Sean O’Reilly, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), told CBC that some departments have been unable to comply fully because “there’s a lack of space across the public service.” 

He has also questioned the rationale for the tougher mandate, telling Canadian HR Reporter that “this mandate isn't about performance, collaboration, or service to Canadians,” but “about optics, imposed on a workforce already dealing with layoffs, budget cuts, and a workplace already in chaos.”

Employment lawyers previously interviewed by Canadian HR Reporter say that in Canada, where employees enjoy stronger protections than in many jurisdictions, employers who tighten RTO rules face legal complexity if long‑standing hybrid or remote arrangements have become implied terms of employment. They warn that unilateral changes to where people work can lead to constructive dismissal claims if contracts lack clear language on work location, and stress the importance of notice, consistency and accommodation when recalling staff.