Return-to-office plan for civil service offers hybrid model with remote work options

The future of work in the Ontario civil service could look much different.

A government plan to bring public servants back to the office includes significant provisions for a flexible or hybrid work schedule, offering employees options to work from home.

The plan will include a phased in approach that will see management come back to the office starting August 16, with other workers being reintroduced to the workplace at later dates.

"At this time, we will take a flexible approach with employees having periods of working on and off site as appropriate and operationally feasible given the requirements associated with building occupancy limits, distancing and space restrictions," wrote top civil servant Michelle E. DiEmanuele in a memo to the Ontario Public Service, a copy of which was obtained by QP Briefing. The return to work plan marks a significant initiative for the cabinet secretary who has held the role since June.

She emphasized that these arrangements could endure beyond the pandemic as part of a workforce modernization, offering more options to employees for how they work, so long as productivity remains at high levels. "As we emerge from Step 3 of the provincial plan and open fully, we will continue to look at flexible work arrangements as part of our modernization of the workforce. We will also focus on how to continue to strengthen our performance to serve the people of this province now and to keep building a sustainable public service into the future."

DiEmanuele also stressed the need to be nimble given the uncertainty posed by the pandemic. "We will aim to always be responsive to changing circumstances such as direction from the government and health officials both regionally and provincially as we execute this plan."

The plan will see 5,500 mostly senior civil servants return to the office on August 16, on top of 31,000 who are already in their usual workplaces. The time will be used to help prepare the office for more employees while maintaining health protocols.

The phased approach will see employees working remotely gradually adjusting to a new hybrid work schedule starting September 13, with a full transition to that model by October 18.

The hybrid model should offer more flexibility to employees, as well as potentially reducing the government's real estate footprint down the road and making it easier for government employees to afford housing if they are able to work remotely.

There are other considerations for what back to work for the civil service will look like.

Solicitor General Sylvia Jones was asked about whether the government would make vaccinations a requirement for a return to work for the civil service, and while she didn't rule it out she said that's not currently the plan. "At this point that is not our plan," she told reporters. "It is not our intention to mandate mandatory vaccines in the province of Ontario, because we haven't needed it. We've had really good uptake because people understand it keeps them healthy and it keeps their friends and family safe." 

A return-to-work plan is significant for the public service, which includes over 60,000 employees. Those employees work in a variety of settings and contexts, including in some places that are more at risk of COVID-19 than others.

It is also not the first attempt at bringing back the public service. The government made an effort to do so in August and September 2020 despite rising COVID-19 numbers. That plan was abandoned after the second wave got out of control in the fall.

This year has a different context due to one significant variable — vaccinations. Close to 70 per cent of Ontarians have been fully vaccinated, offering an element of protection that was not available at this time last year. With that said, vaccination is also not at the level that Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore would like, and the province's top doctor has devoted his past two press availabilities to making the case for more Ontarians to get their shot.

Other workplaces throughout the province are busy preparing return-to-work plans too, with significant attention being paid to what Ontario schools will look like. Premier Doug Ford said yesterday that plan would be announced next week. The school year starts Sept. 7 for most students.