Say government sold off many office buildings so they lack capacity to house all staff
The Ontario government’s plan to require all Ontario Public Service (OPS) employees to return to the office full time by January 2026 has drawn immediate opposition from unions, who argue the directive was made without consultation and risks creating costly disruptions.
On Aug. 14, Treasury Board president Caroline Mulroney confirmed that all OPS employees will be required to work on-site five days a week starting Jan. 5, 2026. A phased transition begins Oct. 20, 2025, when employees currently in office at least three days a week will increase to four.
“The return to a five days per week in-workplace standard reflects the current workforce landscape in the province and reinforces our commitment to the people and businesses we serve across Ontario,” Mulroney said in a statement.
ONA warns of costs and capacity issues
The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), which represents more than 68,000 nurses and health-care professionals, including 4,200 at Ontario Health atHome, released a statement rejecting the plan.
“This decision was made with no meaningful consultation with workers or their representatives,” the ONA said, adding that hybrid models have supported productivity and retention.
The union said years of office space reductions mean many sites cannot accommodate all staff. Expanding space, it warned, would result in “significant taxpayer expense” and potential mismanagement.
“The timing of this decision could not be worse,” the statement continued, citing the Convenient Care Act, which will merge 14 Ontario Health atHome agencies.
The ONA urged the government to “engage in meaningful dialogue” instead of imposing “a one-size-fits-all approach.”
Workers raise concerns about office return
Ontario Health atHome workers echoed concerns in a statement, noting that hybrid work has been standard since the pandemic. With 60% of staff in-office under the current model, available work areas are already scarce due to office sell-offs and restructuring.
“The employer sold off many of the office buildings, meaning they no longer have the capacity to house all the staff back in the office,” the statement said.
CUPE estimated the agency would need “at least two-thirds more office space” to meet the directive from the Ontario government
OPSEU/SEFPO calls RTO policy ‘slap in the face’
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO), representing 40,000 OPS workers, also criticized the mandate.
“Unilateral decisions like this are a slap in the face to the very workers who kept the OPS running effectively throughout and after the pandemic,” president JP Hornick said in a statement.
Amanda Usher, chair of the OPS Unified Bargaining Team, said the blanket policy “ignores the diversity of OPS workplaces, job functions, and individual needs.”
Unions are calling on the government to pause the plan and negotiate with worker representatives.
