The Ford government says managers will have the power to approve temporary work from home requests during the FIFA World Cup, but only on days when there are daytime matches in Toronto.
“We expect the Ontario Public Service to be in the workplace five days a week, reflecting the people and businesses we serve in Ontario,” Liz Tuomi, a spokesperson for Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney, told CP24.com in an email.
“As part of the OPS in-office standard, managers can approve ad hoc, occasional or temporary remote work requests to provide short-term flexibility for various extenuating circumstances – including the FIFA World Cup daytime match days scheduled for June 12 and June 26.”
The response follows a request in April from various unions representing workers in the Ontario Public Service for the government to make accommodations around the games.
Ontario is set to host six games during the World Cup. Most are either in the evening or on weekends, but the city is still expected to see thousands of visitors throughout the World Cup period, with many basing themselves in Toronto, even if they plan to travel to other cities.
The union had sought temporary remote work arrangements for all OPS workers in the city from June 8 to July 3, citing concerns around “significant congestion,” construction, and disrupted sidewalk access.
“Outside of the extraordinary occurrence of the FIFA World Cup, commuting to, from, and within Toronto poses substantial challenges for workers,” the unions wrote in their letter.
“The added stress of record-high attendance and the attendant impact on key transportation hubs as well as our shared downtown neighbourhoods will lead only to chaos and undue stress for workers otherwise going about their daily routine.”
The City of Toronto has asked employers to allow some flexibility around workplaces and hours in order to help relieve congestion during the games.
The Ford government ordered workers back to the office five days a week in January. The unions recently told CP24.com that workers have started receiving a wave of rejection letters to requests that have been made since for alternate work arrangements, including being allowed to work remotely.
The unions did not immediately respond to a request for comment around the province’s statement Wednesday.
