'We do understand the remote work program was effective for some individuals and that this change will be an adjustment'
One municipal government in Alberta is moving to eliminate remote work entirely within the next six months.
The City of Lethbridge has announced it will require all municipal employees to transition to a five-day-a-week, in-office schedule beginning in early 2026.
“This decision is aimed at enhancing service delivery, collaboration, fairness and professional growth,” reads part of the memo sent to staff, as reported by The Alberta Worker.
“In-person work ensures we meet the high standards of accessibility, responsiveness and consistency that residents expect from their local government.”
Currently, fully remote workers make up only 5% of the city’s workforce, according to the same memo.
“Although this change will not impact the majority of City staff, we do understand that the Remote Work program was effective for some individuals and that this change will be an adjustment. For that reason, we are providing a six-month transition period.”
Since companies began issuing return-to-office (RTO) mandates, the debate around in-person work has remained heated.. At HR FutureFest, a session titled “Because I Said So: Keeping Cool During Mandated Office Returns” picked up that conversation, digging into how organizations can manage employee pushback—and whether it’s time to rethink office mandates.
Previously, the Bank of Montreal (BMO) became the latest financial institution to mandate in-office work, requiring employees to be on-site at least four days per week. BMO’s move follows a similar development at Scotiabank. Previously, The Globe and Mail reported that the bank will require some employees to work onsite four days a week starting in September.
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has also made a similar announcement, according to Reuters.
Despite growing RTO policies, employees continue to express a preference for flexible work arrangements.
According to a LinkedIn survey conducted by Zero Waste Scotland, only 7% of workers support the RTO movement, with the majority favouring either fully remote or hybrid models.
Employers across the globe are losing employees after they mandate workers to return to the workplace, according to a previous report.
This is true as work-life balance has now emerged as the top workplace priority, eclipsing pay, according to a recent Randstad report. Also, 75% of working mothers are more satisfied in their career because they now have the flexibility they want, finds another study from Robert Half.
