(Ottawa) Federal government employees can continue to work remotely for another year, though most of them must return to the office at least two days a week before March 31.
Posted at 6:17 am
A spokeswoman for Treasury Department President Mona Fortier said the government will ultimately need another year to “evaluate the benefits” of teleworking for Canada’s Internal Revenue Service and the Departments of Immigration and Employment and Social Development.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) payroll clerks will also work from home for another year, as will judges at the Immigration and Refugee Agency.
In December, Mona Fortier announced that all federal ministry staff must return to the office at least two days a week to resolve civil service disagreements.
A union representing more than 72,000 civil servants was told the extensions were necessary because of problems recruiting and retaining employees.
The president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada says this only adds to the chaos surrounding an already contentious issue.
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