The majority of Canadians are divided about ending the current model of hybrid work for the federal public service mandating three days a week for employees and four days for executives, a new poll suggests.
A total of 1,918 workers were polled by the Angus Reid Institute across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Forty-five per cent supported a full-time return to office for federal government employees, but another 43 per cent said they opposed or strongly opposed an end to hybrid work arrangements. Another 12 per cent said they were unsure.
However, the poll also majority support for increasing days at the office for public servants from the current levels, with 57 per cent backing such a move, another 28 per cent opposed and 15 per cent unsure.
Opposition to a full return to office came mainly from public-sector and not-for-profit organizations. Opinions were divided in the private sector, with 45 per cent supporting an end to hybrid work, but 44 per cent opposed.
A Government of Canada building on Slater Street in downtown Ottawa.
There were also differences along generational and gender lines, with younger workers and women more supportive of hybrid work in the public service.
For men between ages 18 and 34, 38 per cent supported an end to hybrid work, but another 52 per cent opposed it. Of those between 35 and 54 years old, 48 per cent supported an end to hybrid work, while 42 per cent opposed it. Meanwhile, 65 per cent of men over age 55 supported an end to hybrid work, with 26 per cent opposed.
For women between 18 and 34, only 17 per cent supported an end to hybrid work, while 61 per cent opposed it. Thirty-six per cent of women between 35 and 54 supported an end to hybrid work, but 50 per cent opposed it. And 53 per cent of women over 55 supported an end to hybrid work, while 36 per cent opposed it.
In recent months, several organizations have mandated that their workers return to the office either full-time or for four days a week.
For example, RBC and Scotiabank have told employees they will return to their offices four days a week this fall.
Two weeks ago, Premier Doug Ford mandated that Ontario public servants would return to the office four days a week as of Oct. 20, with a complete return to office mandate beginning in January 2026.
Soon after, the City of Ottawa followed suit, expecting a complete return to office as of Jan. 1.
Both the province and the city have argued that a complete return to office strengthens organizational culture, while detractors say return to office places more financial burdens and time squeezes on workers and their families.
Ford has gone so far as to advocate for federal public servants to return full-time.Â
The federal government has confirmed that the current hybrid work arrangements remain in place, but earlier this summer Treasury Board Secretariat did not rule out a full return to office at some point.
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