Federal public service: Some get remote-work extension as others face deadline

Some federal government workers will be able to continue working remotely for another year as many face a March 31 deadline to return to the office at least two days a week.

A spokeswoman for Treasury Board President Mona Fortier says the government will need another year to “evaluate” the benefits of telecommuting at Canada Revenue Agency call centers and the Department of Immigration and Employment and Social Development.

The Department of Procurement’s pay center will work from home for another year, along with judges from the Immigration and Refugee Board.

In December, Fortier announced that all departments would return to the office at least two days a week to address public service discrepancies.

The union representing more than 72,000 public employees said they were told the extensions were needed because of retention and recruitment issues.

The president of the Professional Institute of Public Service of Canada says this only leads to more chaos over an already contentious issue.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 16, 2023.

——

This story was produced with financial support from Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.