Ontario Orders Public Servants Back to Office Full-Time by January
Starting January 5, 2026, Ontario’s public service workers will be required to return to their offices full-time, as announced by Premier Doug Ford’s government. This move will apply to employees in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) as well as those in provincial agencies, boards, and commissions. According to Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney, the shift to a five-day in-office schedule reflects the current workforce climate and is meant to mirror the people and businesses served by the province.
The province noted that more than half of OPS employees are already in the office full-time. For those currently working in-person three days a week, attendance will be increased to four days starting October 20, 2025, before moving to the full schedule in January. The government framed this as part of a broader effort to build a more competitive, resilient, and self-reliant Ontario.
Also Read:Premier Ford emphasized that in-person work fosters productivity and mentorship. “How do you mentor someone over a phone? You can’t. You’ve got to look at them eye to eye,” he remarked at a press conference. He also pointed out that downtown Toronto businesses have been hit hard by the drop in foot traffic since remote work became more common.
Not everyone is on board. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), representing around 40,000 public servants, criticized the decision as rushed and inconsiderate of frontline realities. The union argued that hybrid work has proven benefits for productivity, retention, and employee well-being. They also claimed that an employee relations committee had less than an hour’s notice before the announcement, which arrived during collective bargaining. OPSEU President JP Hornick called it “a slap in the face” to the workers who kept the OPS running effectively during and after the pandemic.
The Association of Management, Administrative, and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO), representing about 14,000 public service workers, also voiced frustration. President Dave Bulmer accused the government of being determined to remove the right to remote work, despite proof that employees can perform effectively from anywhere.
This announcement follows similar moves in the private sector, with several Canadian banks recently increasing in-office requirements. The Ford government’s stance appears clear: face-to-face work is the preferred model for Ontario’s public service moving forward. But with unions strongly opposing the mandate and collective bargaining underway, the coming months could bring more heated discussions — both in boardrooms and on picket lines — before January’s deadline arrives.
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