Ottawa city council will decide today whether to roll back the municipality’s controversial return-to-office mandate for its workforce.
The motion before councillors calls for rescinding the directive that required municipal employees to return to in-person work on a set schedule. If passed, the decision would allow staff more flexibility in choosing remote or hybrid arrangements, similar to what many federal public servants have been seeking.
The return-to-office order, introduced earlier this year, has drawn criticism from some councillors, city staff, and union leaders, who argue that rigid attendance rules ignore both productivity levels and employee well-being. Advocates for rescinding the mandate say hybrid work has proven effective and that rescinding the policy could also help the city remain competitive in retaining talent.
Supporters of the existing policy argue that city services benefit from stronger in-person collaboration and that a return to offices is vital for downtown businesses struggling to recover after the pandemic.
Today’s vote will determine whether the city moves toward a more flexible approach or maintains its mandate for in-person work.
