PIPSC warns the mandate will hurt vulnerable workers, risking talent loss in the public service
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) is rallying public servants against the Treasury Board's rigid 3-day return-to-office (RTO) mandate.
PIPSC and other public sector unions demonstrated their opposition by holding a rally during lunch hour in downtown Ottawa, at the corner of Laurier and Bank.
PIPSC President Jenn Carr openly questions the reasoning behind the mandate, emphasizing the lack of data to justify it. “PIPSC represents some of the most data-driven professionals in Canada,” Carr stated.
“When the government makes sweeping decisions without solid data to support them, we have to ask: what’s really driving this?”
Data collected by PIPSC reveals significant concerns about the negative impact of the RTO mandate, particularly in areas of equity and inclusion. Carr criticized the government's stance, saying that although it claims to support diversity, the mandate disproportionately affects the most vulnerable employees.
According to PIPSC’s recent survey, the majority of women are worried about managing the balance between work and personal life under the new mandate. Persons with disabilities are more than twice as likely to report difficulties in managing accommodations.
Additionally, a large number of LGBTQ2S+ and racialized employees have indicated that they may consider leaving their jobs due to the policy.
Carr expressed concern over the long-term effects of the mandate on the public service’s ability to attract and retain talent.
She called the policy “an ill-informed, one-size rejection of presence with purpose,” warning that it could limit the government’s ability to recruit top talent from across the country.
PIPSC argues that the government’s approach disregards the progress made with flexible work arrangements in recent years.
Carr asked, “What are we left with? A policy that threatens to push out diverse talent, worsen mental health, and make life more difficult for those already struggling. And for what? A solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”
PIPSC is urging the government to provide clear, data-driven justification for the RTO mandate and to adopt flexible work arrangements that consider individual needs and circumstances.
