Hybrid work in the public service timeline

Past and upcoming activities surrounding the implementation of a common hybrid work model for the federal public service.

May 1, 2024
- The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) updates the Direction on prescribed presence in the workplace, requiring employees of the core public administration to work on-site at least 3 days per week by September 9, 2024. In addition, executives are expected to be on-site a minimum of 4 days per week as of the same date.
- The Secretary of the Treasury Board and the Chief Human Resources Officer outline their expectations to deputy heads in implementing the updated direction.

June 23, 2023
- Several bargaining agents and the employer agreed on letters of agreement on telework that sit outside of collective agreements. These letters confirm the shared understanding on telework between bargaining agents and the employer. The Direction on prescribed presence in the workplace and the Directive on Telework continue to apply.

March 31, 2023
- Date of full implementation of the common hybrid work model announced in December 2022.

January 16, 2023
- The phased introduction to the common hybrid work model begins.
- Organizations in the core public administration, that have not already done so begin transitioning to the common hybrid model.

December 15, 2022
- TBS announces the implementation of a common hybrid work model across the core public administration that will see employees work on site at least 2 or 3 days per week, or 40 to 60% of their regular schedule. This becomes the new and first baseline for how most federal public servants operate since prior to the pandemic (when the baseline was on-site full time).
- To allow departments and employees to smoothly transition to a common hybrid model, a phased introduction began January 16, 2023, with full implementation by March 31, 2023.
- Consult the Direction on prescribed presence in the workplace.

August 2022
- TBS requests information from the core public administration on their hybrid testing to date.

June 2022
- Suspension of the vaccine mandates for domestic travellers, transportation workers and federal employees.
- The Clerk of the Privy Council outlines her expectations to deputy heads for a hybrid federal workforce and encourages organizations to test hybrid work models.

May 2022
- Health Canada’s Public Service Occupational Health Program updates its occupational health guidance in light of the evolving COVID-19 situation. The updated guidance signals that departments and agencies can return to full building occupancy with appropriate use of workplace preventive practices.

February 2022
- The Public Service Occupational Health Program updates its COVID-19 guidance allowing federal worksites to increase occupancy while continuing to take into consideration the evolving public health measures related to the pandemic.
- Departments and agencies are encouraged to start developing their plans to increase building occupancy and transition to a hybrid work model that best suits their operational requirements.
- The President of the Treasury Board issues a statement on the evolving public health situation.

December 2021
- Health Canada’s Public Service Occupational Health Program updates its occupational health guidance, recognizing the evolving public health measures relating to the COVID-19 Omicron variant. This new guidance asks departments and agencies to pause any planned increases to building occupancy, review current occupancy levels and consider increasing remote work. The President of the Treasury Board issues a statement on the evolving public health situation.

November 2021
- Health Canada’s Public Service Occupational Health Program releases new occupational health guidance that eases COVID-19 restrictions in federal workplaces. The President of the Treasury Board issues a statement on the updated guidance.
- The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) develops the Guidance on optimizing a hybrid workforce to help organizations implement a hybrid approach to work while continuing to foster a diverse, inclusive and productive workforce to deliver results for Canadians.

October 2021
- Prime Minister announces mandatory vaccination for the federal workforce and federally regulated transportation sectors.

December 2020
- Health Canada authorizes first COVID-19 vaccine, taking the first step towards protecting Canadians and easing restrictions.

June 2020
- First statement on the easing of restrictions related to COVID-19 for federal workplaces.
- The Guidebook for departments on easing of restrictions, which supports a gradual, safe and sustainable easing of COVID-19 restrictions at federal worksites, is published.

March 16, 2020
- The COVID-19 pandemic forces the Government of Canada to suspend on-site work at most federal worksites.
- As a temporary measure, the federal public service adopts a remote-by-necessity operating model where the majority of employees work from home on a full-time basis.

Prior to March 2020
- The majority of federal public servants work full time on-site at their designated workplace across the country. Flexible work arrangements, such as teleworking, are available, but largely exceptional and often temporary.

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