A survey of more than 5,300 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Quebec Region (PSAC-Quebec) revealed strong opposition to the four-day in-office mandate for federal public service workers.
“Our members have spoken. They reject this unilateral employer decision, which comes right in the middle of bargaining to renew collective agreements at the Treasury Board and the Canada Revenue Agency,” said Sébastien Paquette, Executive Vice-President for PSAC-Quebec. “The irony is that members will spend much of their in-office workdays meeting with their coworkers on Teams.”
A hotly contested decision
The vast majority of respondents—more than 4,400 members—felt the in-office mandate was “disconnected from their current reality,” while 3,700 respondents said the way it was imposed did not follow established procedures.
Major day-to-day impact
Members reported that the mandate will significantly disrupt their lives:
- More than 4,200 respondents predicted their expenses and travel time would increase
- More than 4,000 expected a decline in their work-life balance
- More than 3,900 said it would negatively affect their mental health
Inadequate working conditions, including a lack of space, noise, and poor ergonomics, were also frequently raised as concerns. A significant proportion of respondents also noted that travel time would cost them another 2–10 hours per week.
Efficiency claims under scrutiny
More than 4,400 respondents reported better concentration when working from home, which raises questions about the true benefits of a return to the office.
PSAC-Quebec calls for prompt dialogue via collective bargaining to tailor working conditions to members’ realities and find lasting and effective solutions.