The president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is describing the conditions inside federal office buildings as “horrendous,” as public servants will soon be required to spend more time in the office.
A directive issued last week announced that, as of May 4, executives will be required to work onsite five days per week. All other federal employees in the core public service will need to be in the office a minimum of four days per week, as of July 6.
PSAC president Sharon DeSousa told CTV’s Your Morning that the decision “doesn’t make sense” to public servants.
“Currently, the conditions within the offices are horrendous. There’s still issues with the buildings,” DeSousa said Monday morning.
“There are bedbugs, pests. We’re talking about mice, bats. There are just issues with the actual set up and there’s not enough space. According to the government’s database, there are about a thousand buildings that are occupied right now that are not fit or in terribly poor condition.”
In a statement to CTV News Ottawa in response to PSAC’s comments about pests in buildings, Public Services and Procurement Canada said it is committed to providing public servants with “safe and productive workplaces.”
“The presence of pests in federal buildings, although might be concerning to employees, are very common in commercial real estate. However, these are isolated incidents that do not constitute an outbreak/infestation,” PSPC said in a statement Monday afternoon.
“Integrated pest management programs are incorporated into building operations and all reports of pests are taken very seriously and promptly investigated using industry approved methods.”
The Public Services and Procurement Canada 2024 to 2025 departmental results report showed 53.1 per cent of Crown-owned buildings are in “fair or better condition.” In 2023, 56.7 per cent of buildings were listed as being in “fair or better condition.” The report showed 41.9 per cent of Crown-owned heritage buildings are in “fair or better condition.”
Public Services and Procurement Canada manages the federal office portfolio for approximately 100 departments and organizations.
“We will work with our client organizations to address the new onsite presence requirements as it pertains to office space,” PSPC said in a statement last Thursday.
“In locations where sufficient space is not available, we will work to identify potential solutions as quickly as possible. The Government of Canada has put forward ambitious plans to deliver on priorities for Canadians and to strengthen our country. Working together onsite is an essential foundation of strong teams, collaboration and culture needed during this pivotal moment and beyond.”
In a message to deputy heads outlining an increase in the onsite requirements for public servants, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said it would engage with unions on how to implement the return to office plan.
“These discussions will focus on important elements, such as the potential for allocation of assigned seating and occupational health and safety,” said the letter.
“Public Services and Procurement Canada will work closely with you to ensure that adequate office space is available for your employees.”
A real estate expert says there is a solution to the federal government’s office space problem in the private sector.
“We know that they’ve grown by tens of thousands of people since the pandemic and we know that they’ve downsized space so we’re concerned that the math equation might not be working,” said Shawn S. Hamilton, principal at Proveras Commercial Realty.
“There is a solution that the federal government could offer, you know, high quality space to its workforce by leasing space from the private sector, essentially taking the space back that they divested of.”
DeSousa said data from Statistics Canada shows people are more productive when they work from home.
“When you don’t have fit working spaces, there’s not enough of them, it just doesn’t make sense,” DeSousa said.
“Why would you have them travel in when it’s not productive; they’re wasting time, and those who actually do need to commute to come in, those who are emergency responders, we’re just clogging up more space on the highways.”
The Public Service Alliance of Canada filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board in response to the government’s new in-office mandate.
“We’re currently in bargaining and the Government of Canada can’t just change the working conditions of everyone who’s entered bargaining – that’s just not fair and it’s against the law,” DeSousa said.
DeSousa is calling on the federal government to consult with unions and its members on the work arrangements.
“Look at the status of your buildings; look at the working conditions,” DeSousa said.
“During the pandemic, people have been hired all across the country and it makes no sense to have them come into a work site and be on MS Teams to talk to their colleagues. What’s the difference between being at home or being at the workplace if you’re still speaking to them via a platform. It makes no sense.”
Carleton MP wants to reconsider return-to-office mandate
Liberal MP Bruce Fanjoy is calling on his own government to reconsider the return-to-office policy for federal public servants.
“I believe Canada is better served by a hybrid model that balances a mix of in-office and remote work,” the Carleton MP said in a statement posted to social media.
“The right balance is flexible and depends on circumstances. Done well, a hybrid model reduces the cost of government and benefits workers and all Canadians.”
Fanjoy says he wants the government to reconsider its policy for the following reasons
- “There is little to no evidence that a one-size-fits-all RTO policy will improve productivity or service to Canadians,” Fanjoy said.
- Fanjoy said the new return-to-office policy makes it “harder to achieve the government’s priorities” of reducing operating costs, improving affordability and respecting the environment.
- Fanjoy says the policy will “make it harder for public servants to balance work with other responsibilities.”
With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katie Griffin
