Ontario’s Five-Day Return-to-Office Mandate Takes Effect Amid Union Backlash
ONTARIO : Ontario’s mandate requiring provincial government employees to return to the office five days a week came into effect Monday, drawing sharp criticism from unions and public service workers who say the policy is impractical and outdated.
JP Hornick, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), described the mandate as a “throwback to an earlier era,” arguing it fails to account for modern workplace realities such as limited office space and lengthy commutes.
“A blanket mandate for five days a week makes no sense in this day and age,” Hornick said.
Not all employees are returning this week, Hornick added, noting that some organizations — including the LCBO — have delayed implementation due to insufficient office capacity. Around 10,000 alternative work arrangement requests have been submitted by employees, but the union says none have yet been reviewed or approved.
Hornick also criticized the provincial government for failing to consult workers or unions before issuing the directive. Premier Doug Ford ordered the full-time return last August, replacing a hybrid policy introduced in April 2022 that required employees to work in-office three days per week.
Ford said the change would boost productivity and support downtown small businesses. However, OPSEU disputes that claim, warning that longer commutes could reduce efficiency and harm businesses outside urban cores that benefited during remote work.
“Time wasted along Highway 401 is time that could be better spent actually working — from home or another remote location,” Hornick said.
