Will Ottawa use suburban work hubs to force workers back to office?

The federal government could begin providing flexible workspaces in the suburbs, but this raises concerns from the head of one of Canada's unions.

The federal government has alluded to “increased virtual or remote work arrangements” in Budget 2022, while Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has been mulling and implementing coworking spaces for more than four years, according to a CBC report.

In 2019, Ottawa launched the GCcoworking program, a two-year pilot project providing participating federal employee departments access to shared, alternative workspaces in the National Capital Region.

The offices serve as a temporary touchdown point for employees travelling between meetings or a temporary workspace for employees who telework and need access to boardrooms or other office amenities, according to the government. Participating employees can also access the locations during inclement weather conditions or when there are significant traffic delays.

Concerns

While the program is a good concept, it could lead to the government forcing workers back in the office, says Jennifer Carr, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) president.

"If you're just asking me to go into a location just because you want… people in the workplace, that doesn't give good value," she said in the CBC report.

Previously, a group of 32 business associations called on Ottawa to bring public sector employees back to their places of work.

Carr also raised concerns over whether these office spaces match the government's goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions from commutes and ensuring workers are treated with integrity and respect.

Other points of concern for Carr include health and safety, accessibility and ergonomics in these hubs. 

A previous study found that 83% of employees find themselves in the same office environment as before the pandemic, with only 31% saying their organization invested in technology to improve collaboration.

Also, because these hubs are available to several departments, there is a risk of delays when work needs to be completed, said Carr.

"We want to make sure finger-pointing doesn't prevent an issue from being resolved in a timely manner," she said in the CBC report.

As the return-to-office tug of war continues between employers and employees, HR leaders believe those working from home are the future of the workforce, according to another report.